Combining the Portuguese's self-assuming approach and bankrolled by a certain Mr Roman Abramovich, Stamford Bridge faithful prayers were answered as they watched captain John Terry hold the trophy aloft.

The success was completed with a Premiership record of 95 points (29 wins, 8 draws and 1 defeat) and a unique defensive record of just 15 league goals conceded.

That one defeat against Manchester City in way tells a lot about the determination of a club that last won the top division honour back in 1955.

Though there are no high profile signings this time -- Chelsea failed to lure names like Ronaldinho, Andriy Shevchenko, David Trezeguet and Steven Gerrard (for the second time) -- nonetheless they are the team to beat. Exciting 21-million-pound winger Shaun Wright-Phillips and Athletic Bilbao defender Asier del Horno for eight million pounds are the only additions to Mourinho's vast pool of talent.

If there was anything to criticise Chelsea about was their spate of dour 1-0 victories. But hopefully the return of Hernan Crespo from an invigorating loan spell with AC Milan will fire up his Ivorian strike partner Didier Drogba and let's not forget Lyon's Michael Essien, who is rated among the five best combative liberos in world football at the moment. If the Ghanaian's long-running saga results in a switch from the French Ligue One side, he would complement an already formidable group of players in a vital area of the pitch.

Enough about Chelsea what about the rest?

VIEIRA'S ITALIAN JOB
Well, runners-up Arsenal begin life without the influential figure of Patrick Vieira who perhaps realised that there was no point hanging around Highbury if he could not get a UEFA Champions League winners medal. So, after spending nine years in England the Arsenal captain decided to move to Juventus in the summer. Worse was to follow for manager Arsene Wenger hoping to spend the cash on his big summer target 23-year-old Julio Baptista. But the versatile Brazilian opted to stay in Spain and more precisely join Real Madrid. At least they managed to retain England left-back Ashley Cole after the much-publicised 'tapping-up affair'.

Arsenal may have enough in the cupboard to ensure a runners-up spot as they bid farewell to their North London home however their European escapade will end in abject failure.

Alexander Hleb of Stuttgart, who cost 10 million pounds is going to be a key player.

MAN UNITED HIT A GLAZER
The hostile takeover of Old Trafford by American Malcolm Glazer diverted much of the attention away from a side that is clearly showing signs of decline. Make no mistake about it that Manchester United finished a distant third in the table was primarily because the Red Devils struggled to put away the lesser sides.

By their standards they spent very little in the transfer market. Dutchman goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar from Fulham and PSV Eindhoven's tireless South Korean midfielder Park Ji-sung being the new faces. At the same time the club said goodbye to another veteran Phil Neville who joined Everton.

Lack of goals was a fundamental problem throughout the campaign. Perhaps they could solve it by bringing an unsettled Michael Owen back from Spain before the first transfer window closes on August 31.

ANFIELD ON RED ALERT
Rafael Benitez could look back at his first season with mixed feelings. Yes, he masterminded the Reds' fairytale ending in Istanbul but that was small consolation for a yet another dismal league campaign. Liverpool finished fifth, a massive 37 points behind champions Chelsea.

While UEFA debated whether European nights would return to Anfield (which ultimately they did) the shrewd Spaniard was moulding a team he could call his own.

Out went many of the rejects inherited from Gerrard Houllier and instead Benitez snapped up 16-goal Peter Crouch from relegated Southampton, got experienced winger Boudewijn Zenden for free and added a couple of Primera Liga imports among them talented Villarreal shot-stopper Jose Reina and hard-tackling Momo Sissoko from his previous employers Valencia.

The Liverpool manager rates Sissoko highly and believes the 20-year-old Mali international could eventually become a better player than Vieira was.

But Benitez knows that while earning European glory has endeared him to the fans, his real task nevertheless is winning the Premiership. If somehow he can close the gap on the top two, it would be considered as a first step in the right direction. He will also be praying that none of his key personnel suffer long-term injuries as was the case with Djbril Cisse and Xabi Alonso.

DUTCH DELIGHT FOR SPURS
The battle for the mid-table positions will focus on Tottenham Hotspur, who attracted Dutch midfielder Edgar Davids, Middlesborough, Aston Villa, Bolton Wanderers and an Everton side that confounded everybody including the blue half of Merseyside, by finishing ahead of their great rivals.

GOODBYE SOUNESS
Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness in probability is going to be the first casualty of the season.

On the other hand, Man City now under full-time manager Stuart Pearce aim to consolidate. Apart from bringing proven strikers Darius Vassell from Villa and Andy Cole from Fulham, he can even call upon Bradley Wright-Phillips, the younger brother of Shaun, to seize an opportunity which something he has already done in pre-season.

Although there is not much to choose from between Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham City, it will be interesting to see how bad boy Craig Bellamy gets on at Rovers.

LEGENDS OF THE FALL
The Premiership welcomes back West Ham United and Sunderland.

The Hammers, led up front by ageless Teddy Sheringham, has the tough task of inspiring teammates like Rio Ferdinand's younger brother England under-21 defender Anton to perform on the biggest domestic stage. However, ex-Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy will certainly get a frosty reception from Roy Keane when Sunderland visit Man United. The pair didn't see eye-to-eye during the 2002 World Cup finals and it eventually led to Keane's expulsion from the squad.

THE STRUGGLERS
For new boys Wigan Athletic, better known as rugby's heartland, life in the top-flight will be shortlived for obvious reasons. There will be no great escape act performed by Fulham and Bryan Robson's West Bromich Albion this time. Both are prime relegation candidates.

Mild-mannered Alan Curbishley may have to rethink what else he can do more for Charlton Athletic.

Portsmouth too face real problems, not because of the abilities of new manager Alain Perrin but the loss of the goal-scoring talents of Yakubu and the creation of Patrik Berger.

FIXTURES
Saturday (1400 GMT unless stated): Aston Villa v Bolton Wanderers, Everton v Manchester United (1145 GMT), Fulham v Birmingham, Manchester City v West Bromwich Albion, Middlesbrough v Liverpool (1615 GMT), Portsmouth v Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland v Charlton Athletic, West Ham United v Blackburn Rovers
Sunday: Arsenal v Newcastle United (1230 GMT), Wigan Athletic v Chelsea (1500 GMT)