With the start of the Premier League season less than two weeks away, the buzz heralding the return of league football is at its peak.
Jose Mourinho's Chelsea took the Premier League by storm last season with the exhilarating link up between Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa just one admirable feature about the Blues' en route to winning the league title.
In the embryonic stages of the campaign, Mourinho's men outfired everyone in their way - with notable 6-3 and 4-2 wins against Everton and Swansea respectively.
But after a 5-3 defeat at White Hart Lane to Tottenham on New Year's Day, the Blues spent the second half of the season playing an attritional, counter-attacking style.
And as 'The Special One' seeks to lead his side to back-to-back titles for the first time since 2006, we look at five reasons why fans at Stamford Bridge can be optimistic of a repeat of their 2004-2006 successes.
In pictures: Why Chelsea fans should be expecting success ahead of the new season
Mourinho has already won consecutive titles with Chelsea
In the Premier League era, only Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson had won the league title in back-to-back seasons - until the arrival of Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.
Winning the title in 2004-05 was an incredible achievement for the Blues at the time - claiming their first title for over 50 years.
But with John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba at the heart of Mourinho's team, the 2005 champions went on to repeat their feat the following season.
And with Terry, Fabregas and Costa pulling the strings this time around, fans of the Stamford Bridge side will be confident that the second coming of the 'Special One' can also provide a repeat of the 2004-2006 years.
The imminent arrival of John Stones
With news breaking over the weekend that the champions are set to enter an improved bid of around £26million for John Stones, it seems that the promising England defender is destined to join the likes of Gary Cahill, Kurt Zouma and John Terry.
Mourinho's successful sides are built upon a defensive foundation of stone - conceding rarely as they out-maneuvered opponents, often by the odd goal.
But his class of 2014-15 were a lot less solid, particularly in the early stages of the league in which the chaotic, but entertaining, approach of 'scoring more goals than the opposition' seemed to shine through.
With Stones coming in, it would mean both Cahill and indeed Terry would be under increased competition for places - meaning any repeat of a 6-3 thriller will result in more serious sanctions for those culpable parties.
Lack of improvement in challengers
Interestingly, there hasn't been a particularly worrying improvement in Chelsea's main title rivals.
Both Arsenal and Manchester United have been the ones who have made some significant changes, but in terms of marquee signings, they still seem short on title-winning players.
Petr Cech's departure for the Emirates has definitely improved the Gunners, but they still lack a top-class goalscorer, while United have improved through signing the likes of Memphis Depay and Morgan Schneiderlin but still need defensive reinforcements - especially with the risk of star goalkeeper David de Gea leaving for Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, Manchester City are gunning for Chelsea reject Kevin de Bruyne - but Mourinho seems less than concerned, at least publicly.
This should give Chelsea fans hope - though there is still just over a month of the transfer window remaining.
Potential for Falcao to find top form
Much has been made of Radamel Falcao's recent transfer to Chelsea despite his lack of form for the Red Devils last season.
As a loan deal, however, there isn't a great deal of risk to the Blues - just his wages, albeit high ones, as United found out last season.
But if there is a team set to provide Falcao with the best chance of reviving his career, it is Chelsea under Jose Mourinho.
With supporting players like Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas, Falcao won't be short on opportunities when he does make it onto the pitch - and if he can refind his clinical shooting boots, then Chelsea will have made a world-class, enthralling acquisition.
Mourinho's Champions League ambitions
Finally, the Portugese manager will be desperate to win the Champions League with his beloved Blues - and under his guile and leadership, they will have a wonderful chance to win it this season.
Having seen them through to the semi-finals of the Champions League on no less than three occasions during his time in west London, Mourinho will be determined to make it through to the Milan-based final next year.
And with two Champions League titles to his CV, if one thing has become clear throughout the charismatic manager's career it is that his determination to win translates through to his sides in their push for glory.
