Opinion | Premier League Predictions
Opinion | Premier League Predictions
Mourinho is back at the Bridge as will the title come the end of May.
Fans of the Premier League are luckier than most with the season starting earlier than La Liga or its counterparts and not only are transfers rife but questions and bets over just who will be champions of England come the end of May are starting to get seriously asked.
There are four clubs who are considered contenders for the title; Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal. Three are in with a genuine chance of lifting the trophy - Chelsea, United and City - but only one will realistically win it, and our money is on Chelsea. Controversial opinion perhaps, but fortunately for Jose Mourinho, controversy does not render said opinion incorrect.
Of course all opinions and predictions have to be backed up by some kind of fact or at least a small bit of substance so lets begin with why Arsenal will fall away from the title race by Christmas time if they make it that far. The answer of why the Gunners will not win the title seems fairly simplistic. They don t win trophies. Not even the Capital One Cup. Arsene Wenger however is hoping that his players finally shake off their case of amnesia and actually manage to lift a trophy.
Arsene has promised big spending this summer but once again is leaving it late.
For once Arsenal have managed to keep hold of their top players and Wenger promised that this summer big names would be arriving at the Emirates. Has that happened thus far? Erm.. No. Now a audacious bid for Luis Saurez has been tabled and according to various publications, we have now reached the figure of £42 million for the Uruguayan. Will the capture of Suarez win Arsenal the title? You have more chance of seeing Jose Mourinho take up the managerial reigns at the Camp Nou.
Could Pellegrini be the man to take on Mourinho this season?
The Champions of the last two seasons, Manchester United and City both face a rather interesting season with new managers at the helm albeit for entirely different reasons, this will ultimately be there downfall. Major transition is obviously the name of the game for both clubs and the Blue half of Manchester have wasted no time in making sure that they have bought in the players new manager Manuel Pellegrini has identified will not only win them the title for a second time but also help to provide a slightly less embarrassing performance in Europe.
One thing that Pellegrini does have up his sleeve is a working knowledge of Jose Mourinho and indeed the ability to play him at his own mind games, something that David Moyes thus far during his short reign at Old Trafford has spectacularly failed to do. Quite what Moyes was thinking when he claimed that Rooney was only vital to his side should RVP become injured we don't know.
Moyes of course has tried to bring players into the club and has wisely appointed the likes of Phil Neville to his backroom staff and has utilised Ryan Giggs as a player coach whilst making it clear Scholes is welcome when the time is right for the former midfield maestro. Should United land Fabregas however that will be a coup and anyone who wants to make some money should place it on a RVP goal coming from a Cesc assist in the game at the Emirates. Both sides will certainly be there or there abouts only a fool would deny that but there can only be one side who are champions and that will be a very special side indeed.
Chelsea kicked off their pre season by making it look like Jose Mourinho had never left ; a 1-0 win with a Romelu Lukaku goal. Should Lukaku become the number one forward for the side this season very few people would actually be shocked given the young forward s potential and obvious similarities to Didier Drogba.
The likes of De Bruyne and Hazard have also shone thus far in pre season and Mourinho is renowned for getting the very best out of his players. He has signed some top talent in Suchrrle and Van Ginkel to boot, add to this the old guard firmly back in the good books after the reign of Rafa, the Interim one, things look happier and more settled at the Bridge than they have in a long time.
Mourinho may have faltered during his final season in the Spanish Capital but is hungrier and more determined than ever . He's already getting busy with mind games, seeking to move the game against Aston Villa to before the match at Old Trafford and should Chelsea win said game and indeed get a result at Old Trafford they will open up a six point gap over the defending Champions two weeks in. Mourinho is also the master at winning when it counts, during the congested Christmas and Easter periods, Chelsea will break away from the chasing pack.
Mourinho of course knows exactly what it is like to be Champion of England with Chelsea and last time famously predicted the date they would mathematically win the title - and wasn t far off. Only a fool would believe that his calendar at Cobham didn t have a date circled this year and don t bet against him ticking it off.
Do you think Chelsea are Premier League Champions in waiting? Let us know your thoughts.