Throughout the course of last season, Jose Mourinho was adamant that his Chelsea squad did not possess enough quality to win the Premier League title.
Indeed, the Portuguese coach was right. However, he spent big in the summer, seemingly intent on ensuring that his side would go the distance this time around.
Here, Sports Mole has taken a look at how the West Londoners have fared during the opening five months of the 2014-15 campaign.
August
Following a summer of big spending that saw the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa and Filipe Luis join the club, Chelsea started the new Premier League season in emphatic style with three consecutive wins.
The Blues came through a tricky opening fixture to beat Burnley 3-1 at Turf Moor as Costa netted his first competitive goal for the club, while their first home match of the campaign ended with a comfortable 2-0 victory over newcomers Leicester City.
Jose Mourinho's side ended the month with a bizarre match at Goodison Park as a flurry of goals saw them beat Everton 6-3. The ball hit the back of the net five times in 10 crazy second-half minutes, but it was the visitors who eventually came through to keep up their 100% record.
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September
Their winning start to the season continued when they defeated Swansea City 4-2 at Stamford Bridge, but they dropped points for the first time with a 1-1 draw at champions Manchester City.
Andre Schurrle looked to have given the visitors the points when he came off the bench to score in the second half at the Etihad Stadium, only for former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard to hit the target for City and earn them a share of the spoils in bittersweet circumstances.
However, they soon made a return to winning ways as a comprehensive 3-0 triumph over Aston Villa signalled that normal service was resumed.
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Chelsea's Champions League campaign opened with an underwhelming 1-1 draw at home to Schalke 04, though they made amends in Portugal by beating Sporting Lisbon 1-0 courtesy of a Nemanja Matic goal.
The cup competitions continued to come thick and fast in September, with a 2-1 triumph over Bolton Wanderers also putting them through to the third round of the League Cup.
October
A big London derby at home to Arsenal opened October, and it was Chelsea who tightened their grip at the top of the table with a 2-0 victory as goals from Eden Hazard and Diego Costa separated the teams on a fiery afternoon at Stamford Bridge.
Another clash against local opponents followed the next weekend for the Blues, who beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at a combustible Selhurst Park, before a dramatic 1-1 draw with Manchester United left a bitter taste in the mouth for Jose Mourinho and his players.
With Didier Drogba's header appearing as if it might be enough to see them leave Old Trafford with the points, Robin van Persie smashed in an equaliser for United in the final seconds to make it all square.
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Champions League duties resumed with a 6-0 thrashing of NK Maribor, while a 2-1 victory at Shrewsbury Town put them through to the quarter-finals of the League Cup.
November
Important victories over Queens Park Rangers and Liverpool respectively made sure that the Blues kept themselves ahead of the pack as the end of 2014 moved into sight.
A late penalty from Eden Hazard saw them beat QPR 2-1 before strikes from Gary Cahill and Diego Costa secured them a hard-fought 2-1 win at Anfield.
It was three league victories in a row after the international break as they saw off West Bromwich Albion, though a goalless draw away to Sunderland suggested that Chelsea were not as ruthless as was imagined back in August.
On the European front, they sealed their place at the top of their Champions League group by drawing with Maribor and thrashing Schalke 04 5-0 in Germany.
December
Chelsea kept up their winning start in the league with a comfortable 3-0 victory at home to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, but they were beaten for the first time in their next match as Newcastle United saw them off 2-1 at St James' Park. Was this a sign that the wheels were about to fall off the machine?
Not exactly. The Blues responded positively with wins over Hull City, Stoke City and West Ham United before a 1-1 draw away to high-flying Southampton rounded off an impressive 2014.
Meanwhile, a routine triumph against Sporting Lisbon ended their successful Champions League group campaign on a high, and a 3-1 win over Derby County put them in the semi-finals of the League Cup.
Star player so far: Cesc Fabregas
Must do better: Filipe Luis
Where they need to strengthen in January: Attack
Position at start of 2015: 1st
Mid-season Grade: A
To see Chelsea's remaining fixtures in 2014-15, click here.
