Right now, Chelsea is playing some off-season matches before the 2013-14 Premier League gets underway. Once it does, Chelsea will be looking up at its competition. A hotly-contested rivalry between Chelsea and Manchester United just got more heated thanks to Manchester United’s capture of the 2012-13 Premier League championship.Even though Maurice Sines allegiance is with Chelsea, there is no doubt many eyes were on the Manchester United squad in May thanks to the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, who managed the club for its entire existence in the Premier League.
In the 2012-13 campaign, the 21st Premier League season, Chelsea competed to 22 wins, seven losses and nine draws; which was good enough for third place in the league. That qualified Chelsea, along with the two Manchester teams (United and City), for the 2013-14 Union of European Football Associations Champions League. Chelsea finished third place overall, so they don’t have to compete until the group stage of 32 teams; and that will take place later in the 2013-14 season.
Demba Ba and Frank Lampard were Chelsea’s leading goal scorers at 15 apiece. Ba did not join Chelsea until January of 2013; when he came over from Newcastle United in an acquisition.
In addition, Juan Mata won player of the month honours in October, and Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez earned manager of the month honours in April. Mata and Eden Hazard earned PFA Team of the Year honours as midfielders.
The 2013-14 season should be one of excitement thanks to the Premier and Champions League competitions, giving football fans like Maurice Sines reason to root on his Chelsea squad to the finish. Ba, Mata and Lampard all return for another go-round, with defender John Terry serving as captain, Lampard as a vice-captain and Petr Cech as a third captain.
Chelsea is next in action on August 17, when they take on Hull City in the first Premier action of the season.
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