When interviewed by Gary Neville in The Telegraph recently, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was asked by the former Manchester United defender which of his two Chelsea sides was the best: the title winners of 2005 and 2006, or this season's champions elect?
In response, Mourinho said: "I think the team of 2005 had one plus in relation to this team, which was killer instinct. Every time we could kill matches, we killed matches. I don't remember matches where we had the opponent and didn't kill. It was a team that never gave a chance to the opponent to survive.
"This team is not there. We are more artistic, I believe. We have better control of the game by having the ball, and by knowing how to move between players - the circulation of the ball. This team has more [potential] to be admired by good results but also for a certain style of play."
But what if the two sides could be combined? Who would make the cut? Here, Sports Mole has put together a 'Mourinho Chelsea XI'.
Petr Cech
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For all the big money that Roman Abramovich has spent in bringing some top talent to West London, it cost the Russian billionaire just £7m to take Cech to West London in 2004. During his first season, the Czech Republic goalkeeper kept a Premier League record of 21 clean sheets and also went 1,025 minutes without conceding a goal. The next campaign, Cech shipped only 22 goals in his 34 outings.
Ashley Cole
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The left-back missed the two title successes, having arrived at Chelsea from London rivals Arsenal in the summer of 2006. He impressed during his first season under Mourinho's management, although a knee injury limited him to just 23 appearances. However, he did return to fitness to a play a part in the 1-0 FA Cup final victory over Manchester United. Even when viewed as second choice to Cesar Azpilicueta last term, the veteran still produced some positive performances when called upon for key encounters.
John Terry
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Such is the esteem that Terry is held in by Mourinho, the centre-back has been the captain in both of his stints at Stamford Bridge. Unlike his England teammates Rio Ferdinand and Sol Campbell, Terry never had any genuine pace to rely upon. It meant that while being known for his courageous blocks and challenges, the 33-year-old has always been a good reader of danger.
Ricardo Carvalho
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Gary Cahill has improved tenfold under Mourinho's guidance, yet he will have to make further enhancements to his game if he is to become Terry's best ever central defensive partner at Chelsea. Mourinho brought Carvalho to England from Porto with him, and the Portuguese international went on to form an almost telepathic understanding with Terry. For all of Terry's blood and thunder, Carvalho brought a classy touch to the Blues rearguard.
Branislav Ivanovic
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Signed as a centre-back, Ivanovic has found himself a regular home at right-back. The traditional full-back is slight in stature with genuine pace, but the Serbian is somewhat unorthodox in that he relies on brute power to be effective in both penalty areas. As well as being a reliable defender, the 30-year-old can also be expected to contribute some important goals.
Claude Makelele
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In that aforementioned interview with Neville, Mourinho said of Makelele: "In [the 2005] team I had guys like Makelele. He knew everything about [toughness]." Acting as a shield in front of the back four, he carried out his duties to such a standard that his position would become known as the 'Makelele Role'. What he lacked in height, the Frenchman more than made up for with his tenacity and ability to keep the game simple.
Cesc Fabregas
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Fabregas's performances for Chelsea since his summer arrival from Barcelona have posed two questions: why did the Catalans let him go? And why did Arsene Wenger, who had a first option on the 27-year-old, not take him back to Arsenal? In his 11 Premier League outings for the Blues to date, Fabregas has assisted nine goals and scored one himself. As good as Mourinho's 2005 charges were, they had nobody as creative as the Spain international.
Frank Lampard
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Whatever people think of Lampard's decision to join Chelsea's domestic rivals Manchester City on loan from New York City, the simple fact is that the midfielder is the club's all-time leading goalscorer. In Mourinho's first stint in England, the veteran scored 40 Premier League goals and also added a further six last season. Lampard had, in fact still has, the uncanny knack of being in the right place at the right time.
Eden Hazard
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Ultimately, Damien Duff may have struggled to fulfil his undoubted potential over the course of his career, but he still flourished with Mourinho in charge - particularly during the 2004-05 season when he scored 10 goals. Yet, wideman Hazard, who scored 17 times last year, has moved things up several notches from the Irishman. The young Belgian has been publicly challenged by Mourinho, but only because he believes that Hazard can become one of the world's best players.
Arjen Robben
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Granted, Robben did not deliver on his true potential until he arrived at Bayern Munich in 2009. And it's also fair to say that the Dutch winger's time at Chelsea was partly blighted by injury. However, the £12m arrival from PSV Eindhoven in 2004 still produced moments of magic in the two title-winning campaigns. His pace, trickery and direct approach to attacking made him a nightmare for defenders.
Diego Costa
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How do you pick between Didier Drogba and Costa? The nod has gone to Costa, mainly because it took club legend Drogba a little while to settle. In his first season, the Ivorian scored 10 Premier League goals - a return that Costa has already reached in just nine outings. Chelsea won the title in 2005 despite Drogba's struggles, whereas you get the impression that should the Spain international suffer a serious injury or a goal drought, it would put a huge dent in the team of 2014's title bid.
Liam Apicella
