Chelsea enter the new season full of confidence after retaining key players and appointing a new manager.
Blues looking to reclaim title under Ancelotti
Chelsea enter the new season full of confidence after retaining key players and appointing a new manager with a proven track record.
The 2008/9 campaign began with a similar air of optimism around Stamford Bridge following the arrival of Luiz Felipe Scolari, but stories of player unrest began to circulate in the New Year and Guus Hiddink came in to replace the Brazilian tactician at the start of February.
The Blues had been tottering under Scolari and a top-four finish appeared less than certain, but Hiddink safely navigated them to third place and just seven points eventually separated them from champions Manchester United.
Despite numerous calls for him to remain at the helm, Hiddink honoured his contract with Russia and returned to full-time international management, leaving Chelsea to turn their attentions elsewhere.
They got the man they wanted as Carlo Ancelotti was installed just a day after quitting his AC Milan post, with Roman Abramovich desperate to finally land the UEFA Champions League trophy that has so far proved elusive.
The defining moments of the past two seasons have both come in Europe, with John Terry's agonising penalty miss in the 2008 final against Manchester United followed last term by a dramatic semi-final exit to Barcelona on away goals which sparked the ugliest of scenes and a furious outburst from Didier Drogba.
Chelsea supporters could be forgiven for thinking they are destined never to win the Champions League, but they will start as one of the favourites again in 2009/10 due to the strength of their squad and the fact that Ancelotti twice guided Milan to European football's most coveted prize, in 2003 and 2007.
The early indications are that the Italian is a pretty unflappable character, ready to share a joke with the English media and determined to avoid the mind games of his rivals, but still hungry to deliver success to his new club.
It is also hoped he will bring stability to Chelsea after several managerial upheavals, and he has made a strong start by securing the futures of John Terry and Didier Drogba.
The main talking point of the summer has been Manchester City's pursuit of Terry but Chelsea were always adamant that he would not be sold and the England centre-back finally broke his silence and vowed to stay after being assured of the club's ambition.
The Blues need his leadership as much as his defensive abilities, while they also need Drogba to be back to his best after form and fitness worries at the start of last season and the Ivorian striker has put an end to speculation about his future by signing a new three-year contract.
The other bit of big business at Chelsea this summer has been the signing of Russia international Yuri Zhirkov from CSKA Moscow for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £18million.
The 25-year-old can play at left-back but he is expected to operate more in midfield, where he is capable of making devastating runs such as the one that brought him an incredible goal against Hamburg in 2006.
Zhirkov's direct rival for a place in the team is Florent Malouda, another player to sign a new contract this summer, and the French winger produced a series of sparkling performances towards the end of last term, none more so than the FA Cup final victory over Everton.
Ancelotti has made it clear that he intends to line up with a diamond formation in midfield and it will be a major boost to have the powerful and dynamic Michael Essien fully fit after the serious knee injury that kept him out for such a huge chunk of last term.
Joe Cole remains sidelined for the start of the new term but he will want to play a major role ahead of the World Cup, while the remarkable Frank Lampard can almost be guaranteed upon to start virtually every game and chip in with about 20 goals in all competitions.
John Obi Mikel has come of age over the past 12 months and will be used in the holding role if Ancelotti fails to bring in Andrea Pirlo from Milan, but Michael Ballack and Deco will have to work hard to prove they are worthy of regular starting spots.
Ancelotti's preferred system will see Nicolas Anelka, fresh from topping the Premier League scoring charts last season, partnered by Drogba up front and there were signs under Hiddink that they could strike up a lethal understanding.
Summer recruit Daniel Sturridge is waiting in the wings and has so much potential that Ancelotti will not be afraid to put faith in him, while Andriy Shevchenko also has a point to prove after a disappointing loan spell with Milan.
No team conceded fewer goals than Chelsea last season and the defence again looks extremely solid, with Jose Bosingwa and Ashley Cole also providing an attacking threat from the full-back positions.
Alex was Hiddink's favoured centre-back alongside Terry but Ancelotti's Community Shield selection suggests Ricardo Carvalho will get the nod initially. Both are good enough to walk into most teams, while Branislav Ivanovic's recent emergence has also provided more depth.
Petr Cech will hope to reclaim his mantle as arguably the best goalkeeper in the Premier League and Ross Turnbull is a good back-up option following his move from Middlesbrough.
Chelsea's pre-season form has been encouraging and there is no reason why they should not make a flying start as their first five opponents are Hull City, Sunderland, Fulham, Burnley and Stoke City.
One potential obstacle on the horizon is January's African Cup of Nations, when Chelsea could suffer more than the other title challengers if Essien, Drogba, Mikel and Salomon Kalou are all required in Angola.
Ancelotti would nevertheless have the opportunity to strengthen his squad during the winter transfer window and Chelsea will feel they can re-establish themselves as the dominant force in English football over the coming season.
Fanzone
Dan Quarterman says: "Our success this season will much depend on how quickly Ancelotti can get the players firing on all cylinders and how quickly we adapt to his new regime and systems.
"It will be interesting to see how United cope without Ronaldo and Liverpool without Alonso. I think he will be a massive loss with his range of passing. It will be up to us to take advantage of these changes.
"Ancelotti has been brought in for his European experience, but I don't care what you say, you have to be lucky to win the Champions League and recently the luck hasn't been on our side.
"I think we'll be there or thereabouts again, but we will have to see if Lady Luck decides to deal us a good hand this year or not. The fans and players all want the Premier League title back and I think this may be the season to do it, especially with United and Liverpool not looking as strong as they have."
Betting
Sky Bet's Dale Tempest says: "Twelve months ago Luiz Felipe Scolari's Chelsea were many people's favourites to win the Premier League, but it all went pear-shaped for the Blues. Guus Hiddink dramatically turned things round and much of that was down to the timely return of Michael Essien. He gets up and down and does all the hard work. People talk about the importance of Terry and Lampard but for me Essien is hugely important if Chelsea are to go close. Carlo Ancelotti will be aiming to pick up where Hiddink left off if
Chelsea are to match their 2/1 joint favouritism. I agree totally with Sir Alex that Chelsea will be United's main rivals and I'm not playing mind games."
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