Chelsea have shown their intelligence in the transfer market and manager Jose Mourinho has revealed Roman Abramovich made balancing the books a major part of his job description.

The Blues completed the signing of Colombian winger Juan Cuadrado on deadline day but made a profit from the sales of Andre Schurrle and Ryan Bertrand and sent Mohamed Salah on loan to Fiorentina.

It follows some even shrewder business in the summer as the Blues somehow sold comical centre-half David Luiz to PSG for £50million and squeezed £37million out of Manchester United in the deal that took Juan Mata to Old Trafford.

Empire builder: Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich in the stands

In fact, Mourinho has recouped approaching £170million from the sale of players since returning to Chelsea last summer and says it was made clear to him in his contract negotiations that complying with Financial Fair Play was of paramount importance.

He said: “It was something that was explained one-and-a-half years ago when I met my owner and my club board before I joined. I was explained the kind of club Mr Abramovich wants, one with complete respect with the financial fair play.

“Our work to keep the team strong and with possibility to compete with the ones financially more powerful or the ones who don’t care about financial fair play. We had to work very hard.

Juan Mata is looking forward to the new season at Old Trafford.
Sold: Juan Mata left for Old Trafford

“So in my area I try to do that, analysing the players we can sell and analysing who we can buy. When it goes to numbers, it goes completely away from my control. I think total credit goes to the people who look after that area and I repeat, I’m not that one.

“The only thing that is not nice is that we compete against the ones who don’t follow the same rules. That’s the only problem and it has happened before. I don’t think a team can be champions when you are punished because you didn’t comply with the financial fair play.

“I don’t speak about Man City and Man City players and Man City options. I appreciate the lesson that Mr Pellegrini wanted to give to one of my players but I don’t want to do the same.”

Clashing: Jose Mourinho and Manuel Pellegrini

Meanwhile, Cesc Fabregas could return to the Chelsea side for tomorrow’s trip to Aston Villa. The Spanish midfielder missed last weekend’s 1-1 stalemate with Manchester City.

While Fabregas should return to the squad for Villa, Filipe Luis has been ruled out through injury and Diego Costa is still suspended.

New signing Cuadrado could make his debut despite having only trained for part of the week at Cobham.