Ambitious Chelsea, with Champions League-winning manager Jose Mourinho at the helm, believe they can capture their first English premier league title for 50 years this season.

The Portuguese coach, who replaced sacked Italian Claudio Ranieri in June, has put his reputation on the line by accepting billionaire owner Roman Abramovich's challenge of bringing trophies to Stamford Bridge.

But Mourinho, who took Porto to UEFA Cup and Champions League victory in successive seasons, is nothing if not supremely confident.

"In Portugal if you win you are a god, if you lose you are sacked," he said last month. "I want to win...and bring fans the success they have waited for so long."

Ranieri took Chelsea to runners-up spot in the league and the Champions League semi-finals but it was not good enough for their Russian owner who wants a return on the 210 million pounds ($380 million) spent on players since he arrived 13 months ago.

Mourinho has swept out the older generation in favour of youth. Gone are ageing captain Marcel Desailly and his fellow Frenchman Emmanuel Petit as well as Dutchmen Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Mario Melchiot.

Argentines Hernan Crespo and Juan Sebastian Veron, who never settled at Chelsea, have returned to Italy on loan and 24-year-old England defender John Terry is now captain.

PORTUGUESE FLAVOUR

Mourinho has also brought a Portuguese flavour to the side, raiding his former club Porto for 26-year-old central defender Ricardo Carvalho, who played so impressively during Euro 2004, as well as Paulo Ferreira, 25, at right back.

Developing midfielder Tiago Mendes, 23, was also snapped up from Benfica.

Up front 25-year-old Serbian Mateja Kezman and Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba have joined established striker Eidur Gudjohnsen and Romania's Adrian Mutu, who nearly left for a season-long loan at Juventus.

After pre-season games in America, winning 4-2 against Celtic and 3-0 against Roma before losing 3-2 to AC Milan, Mourinho said confidence was high among the strikers as all except the injured Mutu scored at least two goals.

A 3-0 home win in their final pre-season friendly against Real Zaragoza in a tribute match for former crowd favourite Gianfranco Zola bodes well for the new campaign.

Mourinho is also incorporating 20-year-old Dutch winger Arjen Robben and Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech, 22, who were bought by Chelsea in mid-season but only joined the club after Euro 2004, where they put in fine performances.

England midfielder Frank Lampard, Chelsea's player of the year last season when he started nearly every game, said the new signings had been well thought out.

"I'm impressed with the youthful players we've signed. They are very hungry and really want to improve and show what they can do for Chelsea," he said after a recent training session.

Lampard noted that that there was a freshness about the team with Mourinho meticulous and organised in his coaching.

Chelsea kick off the season on Sunday at home to Manchester United, the importance of which Mourinho is keen to play down.

"It's only three points. It's one of dozens of matches we have to play during the season," he said after the U.S. trip, adding that his side would improve as the season progresses and the new players become accustomed to English football.

"When I look to the future...the atmosphere between us, the quality of our play and our spirit then we have to expect good things because for sure good things will happen."