I simply can’t wait for the start of the season. Now, for clarity, the community shield was not the start of the season. I’m not saying this because Chelsea lost. It was just another inconsequential game. Ok, Liverpool won some medals, let them win, Probably they wont be able lay their hands on any such thing this season.

I still wonder how the international friendlies are scheduled during the week while we have the league starting in the weekend. Again this may not impact teams like Liverpool which doesn’t contribute much to the international teams. Whereas 16 Chelsea players played in the World Cup 2006. Now this week all Chelsea first team players are on international duty except Carvalho, Hilario, Paulo Ferreira and Cudicini because Portugal is the only team not playing friendlies this week.

While the team is slowly gelling together, Lampard and Drogba forming an understanding with Sheva, Jose Mourinho would have spent this week on the first league match on Sunday against Manchester City. It’s not pre-season anymore. With Kalou showing so much promise, the Sunday encounter is just mouth-watering. I have to say that I expect a 3-0 victory for Chelsea, with Sheva, Lamps and may be Kalou entering the score-sheet.

The most difficult thing for Jose Mourinho would be to handle the media, if by any chance, Chelsea loses or draws the match. Jose is yet to lose a home match in the league (incl FC Porto). A slow start may not be disastrous but as media is baying for Chelsea’s blood anything less than a 2-0 victory would be seen as a uncharacteristic performance by Chelsea. I still remember, the first match of last season against Wigan was such a shocker. Thanks to a classy finish by Crespo with 30 seconds to go, we were saved of the blushes. Jose Mourinho even whispered in Paul Jewell’s ears “That’s unfair. We don’t deserve this victory”. After this scratchy start, Chelsea went on to win 4-0 against West Brom, 4-1 against Liverpool, 5-1 against Bolton and the rest is as they say, history.

For that matter, till December 2005, Arsenal was not even in the top 6 and they still finished at 4. Same is with Man Utd and Liverpool. They all had poor starts but finished in top 4. In the last two seasons, Chelsea’s poor run of form last season has been two back-to-back losses – Man Utd & Fulham (do not include the dead rubbers with Blackburn & Newcastle). So the worst thing to happen for Chelsea would be to lose to Man City, but the Coach says he is not ‘under pressure’.

But like Jose said, if Chelsea loses probably they would even announce a national holiday in Britain. So, better be prepared for a scratchy start but don’t let that make you believe that Chelsea might falter. Jose put it so clearly when he said that he does not quite bother about the form at the moment because the league spans over 10 months. Over 10 months no other team can show the consistency and quality as Chelsea.

Nevertheless, I expect Chelsea to be No.1 all through the season and clinch the hat-trick in the second week of April. Anyone for an unbeaten championship?