Mourinho: Settled squad

The transfer window is open for six more weeks, during which time Jose Mourinho says he hopes to add a defender to his squad in addition to the two signings already completed.

Following the departures of Chelsea legends Didier Drogba and Petr Cech, the manager moved quickly to replace them, bringing in Falcao on loan to complement Diego Costa and Loic Remy up front, while adding Asmir Begovic to challenge Thibaut Courtois for the goalkeeping spot.

Mourinho has been discussing the new pair, one of whom he has already had the chance to work with in these first few days of pre-season in Montreal. He has also assessed the overall make-up of his squad which he hopes to guide to a second consecutive Premier League title.

‘It’s a big challenge for Begovic because he has Courtois, an amazing goalkeeper who immediately made a great impact when he arrived in England,’ said the boss.

‘But I wanted to replace Petr not with a good goalkeeper but with a very good goalkeeper. I think we have in our squad two of the best five goalkeepers in the Premier League. Begovic is going to compete with Courtois. The one with more clean sheets is the one that has to play, but I am so happy and so calm because we have two fantastic goalkeepers.

‘Falcao comes to us with motivation,’ continued Mourinho, turning his attention to the Colombian striker who will meet the players for the first time on Tuesday.

‘He is very disappointed and frustrated because people in England may think he is not a fantastic player because of last season, but he’s in a great moment of his career with many years in front of him to be back to a certain level.

‘We don’t put any pressure on him. We want him to feel completely free to work and wait for goals and happiness and for sure it will come.’

Mourinho doesn’t expect much more transfer activity at Stamford Bridge this summer but there is one position he feels needs strengthening to add to the world-class talent which delivered the Premier League and the Capital One Cup last term.

‘I am looking for a defender to finish the balance in our squad and after that we are ready to answer to anything that can happen with our players,’ he explained.

‘If one of our players wants to leave or we agree a deal for a player to leave we have to answer immediately because at this moment we have balance and quality in numbers. We cannot lose that balance.  

‘To go to next season with basically the same squad that we had last season, when our direct competitors are investing a lot, is a big challenge. That’s something I understand and accept - it’s a compliment to us that the other teams are buying so much.

‘They will improve immediately with the new players, and for us there is only one way to improve, which is to work fantastically well and to improve what we have which is the same as last season.’