CHELSEA
Status: 2nd in Premier League
Nickname: The Blues
THE RECORD: The capture of the Champions League trophy has become an obsession for Roman Abramovich since he bought Chelsea in 2005. The Russian oligarch has used his vast resources to transform the club into a European giant, yet the holy grail has continued to slip through his fingers.
A host of semi-final appearances in this competition and their infamous near miss in the 2008 final against Manchester United, when captain John Terry struck the post with a penalty that would have given Chelsea the crown, means the battle to snare the one piece of silver that has eluded the Blues in the last decade continues.
TACTICIAN: Andre Villas-Boas
A Europa League winner with FC Porto last season, the youthful Villas-Boas went back on his own commitment to the Portuguese club when he accepted the offer to take over at Chelsea during the summer.
Just 33 when he accepted a post that has got the better of many more experienced coaches in recent years, his arrival at Chelsea was a homecoming of sorts after his stint as one of Jose Mourinho's backroom staff during the Real Madrid manager's time at Chelsea. Villas-Boas may need to succeed in the Champions League if he is to enjoy a lengthy stay at the helm of the Stamford Bridge ship.
THE GAMEPLAN: Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea lost their way last season as a lack of width allowed opponents to stifle their attacking intent with too much ease. With an ageing side, the dynamism required to crack open Premier League defences was lacking, while their Champions League challenge ended tamely at the hands of Manchester United in the quarter-finals.
Villas-Boas has vowed to give Chelsea a fresh dimension and that it is much needed as there is a danger this side is growing old and stale together. He may prefer a 4-3-3 formation featuring one striker, but there will always be two of Torres, Anelka and Drogba left unhappy if there is only one central striking position up for grabs.
MAIN MAN: Fernando Torres
If Torres fails to rediscover his best form and emerge as the star turn in this Chelsea side, his presence will become a major stumbling block for Villas-Boas.
The Spaniard, who was once hailed as the finest marksman in world football, has been a shadow of his former self in the last 18 months, with his form after his £50 million move from Liverpool to Chelsea last January alarmingly poor. Villas-Boas may feel under pressure to pick the club's record signing, but he has to be strong enough to jettison Torres if he fails to deliver.
BIG SIGNING: Juan Mata
After failing in numerous bids to sign Tottenham's Luka Modric, Chelsea settled for the capture of the dynamic Mata and the Spain wide man has the class to make a huge impact after his £23.5 million move.
"The main reason I came to this club was I liked the ideas of the new manager here," states Mata. "The first thing Villas-Boas said to me was that he wanted Chelsea to play more attacking football this season and this appealed to me. It means a player of my style can be important to him."
THE RISING STAR: Oriol Romeu
Chelsea prised this talented teenager out of Barcelona during the summer, yet the reigning European champions have not have given up on this product of their celebrated La Masia academy, with a buy-back clause agreed with Chelsea should Romeu become a major star.
He needs to oust experienced operators Frank Lampard, Jon Obi-Mikel, Michael Essien, new signing Raul Meireles and youngster Josh McEacheran to get into a Blues' central midfield line-up and if he's good enough to usurp that quintet, Romeu's value will soar by the end of this season.
THE X FACTOR: The Old Guard
Even during Chelsea's Premier League and FA Cup double-winning season of 2009-10, there was a feeling that the Blues' standard bearers were starting to lose some of their sparkle, with skipper John Terry, midfield stalwart Frank Lampard and strikers Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka sliding towards the ranks of veterans.
Two years on and Villas-Boas has to get the best out of these highly-paid, influential characters whose best days are behind them. If he doesn't get the key figures in his dressing room on side, his stay as Chelsea boss could be brief. Alternatively, their support could help him to succeed at Stamford Bridge.
FLAW IN THE MAKE-UP: There are far too many question marks hovering over Villas-Boas and the squad he has inherited to predict just how this season will turn out for Chelsea, though few would place too much money on a side that fell short on all fronts last season coming up trumps with a similar set of players.
Alex and David Luiz are defenders with plenty to prove after coming under fire in 2011, while Lampard, Mikel and Florent Malouda need to confirm they are ready to improve on their efforts of last season. The star-studded front trio of Torres, Drogba and Anelka need to bounce back into top form if they are to save their Chelsea careers.
WHAT THEY SAY: "People say the Champions League is an obsession for this club and you can see why after Chelsea came close so often in the last few seasons, but I will not tell my players to think only about this competition," states youthful boss Villas-Boas. "A winning team targets every trophy and that is my message at Chelsea."
VERDICT: A quarter-final spot should be attainable for Chelsea, but don't expect too much more.
Status: 2nd in Premier League
Nickname: The Blues
THE RECORD: The capture of the Champions League trophy has become an obsession for Roman Abramovich since he bought Chelsea in 2005. The Russian oligarch has used his vast resources to transform the club into a European giant, yet the holy grail has continued to slip through his fingers.
A host of semi-final appearances in this competition and their infamous near miss in the 2008 final against Manchester United, when captain John Terry struck the post with a penalty that would have given Chelsea the crown, means the battle to snare the one piece of silver that has eluded the Blues in the last decade continues.
TACTICIAN: Andre Villas-Boas
A Europa League winner with FC Porto last season, the youthful Villas-Boas went back on his own commitment to the Portuguese club when he accepted the offer to take over at Chelsea during the summer.
Just 33 when he accepted a post that has got the better of many more experienced coaches in recent years, his arrival at Chelsea was a homecoming of sorts after his stint as one of Jose Mourinho's backroom staff during the Real Madrid manager's time at Chelsea. Villas-Boas may need to succeed in the Champions League if he is to enjoy a lengthy stay at the helm of the Stamford Bridge ship.
THE GAMEPLAN: Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea lost their way last season as a lack of width allowed opponents to stifle their attacking intent with too much ease. With an ageing side, the dynamism required to crack open Premier League defences was lacking, while their Champions League challenge ended tamely at the hands of Manchester United in the quarter-finals.
Villas-Boas has vowed to give Chelsea a fresh dimension and that it is much needed as there is a danger this side is growing old and stale together. He may prefer a 4-3-3 formation featuring one striker, but there will always be two of Torres, Anelka and Drogba left unhappy if there is only one central striking position up for grabs.
MAIN MAN: Fernando Torres
If Torres fails to rediscover his best form and emerge as the star turn in this Chelsea side, his presence will become a major stumbling block for Villas-Boas.
The Spaniard, who was once hailed as the finest marksman in world football, has been a shadow of his former self in the last 18 months, with his form after his £50 million move from Liverpool to Chelsea last January alarmingly poor. Villas-Boas may feel under pressure to pick the club's record signing, but he has to be strong enough to jettison Torres if he fails to deliver.
BIG SIGNING: Juan Mata
After failing in numerous bids to sign Tottenham's Luka Modric, Chelsea settled for the capture of the dynamic Mata and the Spain wide man has the class to make a huge impact after his £23.5 million move.
"The main reason I came to this club was I liked the ideas of the new manager here," states Mata. "The first thing Villas-Boas said to me was that he wanted Chelsea to play more attacking football this season and this appealed to me. It means a player of my style can be important to him."
THE RISING STAR: Oriol Romeu
Chelsea prised this talented teenager out of Barcelona during the summer, yet the reigning European champions have not have given up on this product of their celebrated La Masia academy, with a buy-back clause agreed with Chelsea should Romeu become a major star.
He needs to oust experienced operators Frank Lampard, Jon Obi-Mikel, Michael Essien, new signing Raul Meireles and youngster Josh McEacheran to get into a Blues' central midfield line-up and if he's good enough to usurp that quintet, Romeu's value will soar by the end of this season.
THE X FACTOR: The Old Guard
Even during Chelsea's Premier League and FA Cup double-winning season of 2009-10, there was a feeling that the Blues' standard bearers were starting to lose some of their sparkle, with skipper John Terry, midfield stalwart Frank Lampard and strikers Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka sliding towards the ranks of veterans.
Two years on and Villas-Boas has to get the best out of these highly-paid, influential characters whose best days are behind them. If he doesn't get the key figures in his dressing room on side, his stay as Chelsea boss could be brief. Alternatively, their support could help him to succeed at Stamford Bridge.
FLAW IN THE MAKE-UP: There are far too many question marks hovering over Villas-Boas and the squad he has inherited to predict just how this season will turn out for Chelsea, though few would place too much money on a side that fell short on all fronts last season coming up trumps with a similar set of players.
Alex and David Luiz are defenders with plenty to prove after coming under fire in 2011, while Lampard, Mikel and Florent Malouda need to confirm they are ready to improve on their efforts of last season. The star-studded front trio of Torres, Drogba and Anelka need to bounce back into top form if they are to save their Chelsea careers.
WHAT THEY SAY: "People say the Champions League is an obsession for this club and you can see why after Chelsea came close so often in the last few seasons, but I will not tell my players to think only about this competition," states youthful boss Villas-Boas. "A winning team targets every trophy and that is my message at Chelsea."
VERDICT: A quarter-final spot should be attainable for Chelsea, but don't expect too much more.
