It is a measure of the Premier League’s top-end competitiveness that no team has retained the title since Manchester United won a third consecutive crown in 2008/09.
The trophy has had new owners in each of the six seasons that have followed, with three clubs — United, Chelsea and Manchester City — and five managers — Carlo Ancelotti, Alex Ferguson, Roberto Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini and Jose Mourinho — all since getting their hands on English football’s principal domestic prize.
Mourinho’s Chelsea are the latest side to attempt to maintain a grip on the championship for more than a single campaign.
The Londoners kick off their defence against Swansea City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, and do so as favourites to be the first side since United to finish top of the pile for a second successive campaign.
Chelsea look well placed; they have not lost any key players this summer, with the exits of Didier Drogba, Filipe Luis and Petr Cech unlikely to be keenly felt.
In Eden Hazard, they have last season’s outstanding Premier League player. John Terry was the top defender of 2014/15 and Thibaut Courtois and Cesc Fabregas were among the best goalkeepers and midfielders, respectively.
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On the flip side, though, the first-team squad has not really been strengthened.
Major surgery was clearly not necessary given the emphatic nature of last term’s triumph, but history suggests that even the greatest sides cannot escape the need for constant evolution.
Manchester City’s collapses in the campaigns immediately following their successes in 2012 and 2014 can in part be attributed to a drop-off in motivation levels, but the club’s failure to sufficiently rejuvenate the ranks was the major reason why they fell short when it came to defending their prize.
Chelsea’s strongest XI is still the best in the league, but there is a slight worry about the depth beyond those first picks.
Mourinho’s team were fortunate with injuries last season, with Diego Costa’s continuing hamstring issue the only real fitness concern for much of the year.
Further problems for Costa — or injuries to Cesar Azpilicueta, Nemanja Matic or Cesc Fabregas — could leave Chelsea short, with question marks continuing to hover over potential replacements such as Radamel Falcao and John Obi Mikel.
Elsewhere, there is arguably a lack of top-class creativity and game-changing invention should Hazard be ruled out of action: Willian has become an essential member of the squad and Oscar is more than capable of producing inspired moments, but coping without Hazard — the Belgium international has started 101 of 114 Premier League games since his move from Lille in 2012 — is a test Chelsea have yet to face.
Juan Cuadrado’s puzzling non-impact since his January switch from Fiorentina has robbed the side of what should have been an invaluable alternative in attacking areas.
An opening-day encounter with Swansea does not represent the simplest of starts, but it would be a surprise were Chelsea not to pick up all three points.
A 1-0 defeat and subdued performance in last weekend’s Community Shield against Arsenal will not have troubled Mourinho, whose preparation and build-up to the season was built around Saturday’s game rather than last weekend’s match at Wembley Stadium.
Chelsea proved last season they were more than a match for all their rivals, and the eight-point winning margin over Manchester City was a fair assessment of their superiority.
With the chasing pack arguably closing the gap with their summer dealings, however, they must show they have the legs in reserve to get them over the finish line should their star men be stricken at any stage.
Mourinho’s side remain the strongest in the division but, as recent history has shown, retaining the Premier League title is no easy feat.
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