Chelsea’s summer has been an understated one. Just two new signings have arrived at Stamford Bridge ahead of the new Premier League season, with Jose Mourinho’s side still to record a pre-season win after losing to Arsenal in Sunday’s Community Shield clash too. And yet, Mourinho has very little to be concerned about.

The Portuguese coach has appeared somewhat irked over the past few weeks—wearing a rather indifferent expression during his side’s tour of the United States, attacking both Arsene Wenger and Rafael Benitez through the media—but one doubts whether he is losing any sleep at night before Saturday’s Premier League opener against Swansea City.

While many of Chelsea’s rivals have used the summer transfer market to make big-money additions—not least Manchester United and Manchester City—Mourinho has spent the off-season instead plugging gaps in his squad. After all, there wasn’t much wrong with his team last term—so why fix something that isn’t broken but is instead thriving?

Asmir Begovic was signed for £8 million from Stoke City to ensure that Thibaut Courtois has an able deputy—following the exit of Petr Cech to Arsenal—with Radamel Falcao also joining on a season-long loan from Monaco. Mourinho is gambling on his own powers of recovery in helping the Colombian rediscover the form that once made him Europe’s most potent striker.

Mourinho is meticulous in his forward planning, and so is intent on having two top-tier players for every position in his team. It’s why he is so keen to sign both John Stones from Everton and left-back Baba Rahman from Augsburg—so if worse comes to worst, Chelsea will be covered for every possible eventuality. 

Such strength naturally prompts comparison with some of Mourinho’s greatest teams, not least his title-winning side of 2005/06. His treble-winning Inter Milan team goes down as one of his best too, with the Real Madrid outfit that beat Barcelona to the Liga title in 2012 being also rather handy. So how does the Chelsea side of 2015 measure up?

Against Tiago, Claude Makelele and Michael Essien, the current Chelsea midfield would likely hold their own, with Nemanja Matic one of the best central anchors in Europe right now, and Cesc Fabregas almost irrepressible when at his best. Mourinho’s side as it is are more dynamic and fluid than the one he led to the title just under 10 years ago—and it may be up to personal interpretation as to whether that is a good or bad thing.

Of course, Frank Lampard was at his very best for Chelsea during the title-winning season of 2005/06. His departure has harmed the Blues, with Oscar yet to find the same kind of consistency as the driving force behind the central striker. But that could still come, as the Brazilian continues to progress year-on-year.

Didier Drogba might have been a Chelsea player at the time of their Premier League success nine years ago, but the Ivorian was still adapting to his new surroundings and wasn’t quite the force that he became known as in a blue shirt. In that sense, Diego Costa—despite his injury struggles—represents something of an upgrade.

There is little to choose between Thibaut Courtois of 2015 and Petr Cech of 10 years ago, but it’s at the back where the current-day Blues fall most significantly short of their 2005/06 counterparts, with the partnership of John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho among the best the Premier League has ever seen. 

However, whilst the 2005-06 team might edge it over the club’s current crop, Chelsea are still on the ascendancy and have yet to find the ceiling of their capacity. At their current rate of development, this team has the makings of Mourinho’s greatest ever.

What’s more, Mourinho could be given the time to build something of a dynasty at Stamford Bridge—if his recent comments are anything to go by. The Portuguese has spoken about settling personally at Chelsea for the time being, adding that his relationship with the club’s owner Roman Abramovich has never been better.

“In this moment we don’t have this problem,” Mourinho explained as per Reuters via the Guardian. “When I left Real Madrid to come here, Mr Abramovich asked me to fight for titles. In my first season we were almost there, in my second season we did it and in my third season if you are close, you can always do it.”

Whereas before Mourinho has been a quick fix for those looking for instant success, he could now be given time to plant roots at Chelsea—the club where he has always looked most comfortable. If his relationship with Abramovic is indeed a healthy one—following previous fall-outs between the two men—then there’s no reason why Mourinho couldn’t remain there for many years to come. And that is an ominous prospect for the rest of the Premier League.

Of course, the immediate task at hand is to become the first team to successfully defend their Premier League title since Manchester United’s success of 2009. That would at least be a start on the building of Mourinho’s dynasty—and that’s before their Champions League success is factored in too.

Last time around, Mourinho was thwarted by Sir Alex Ferguson—and his own boss, Abramovich—leaving Chelsea before his side could fully reach its potential. But who out of the Premier League’s current coaching crop has the nous and presence to challenge the Portuguese? Perhaps it will take Pep Guardiola finally making the move to England for Mourinho to be pitted against an equal—and someone who can beat him.

But for now, Mourinho is the Premier League’s predominant figure, with his current Chelsea side fitting of such standing. Pressing questions were asked of the Special One not so long ago—pondering whether Mourinho had lost some of his shimmer. Now he—or rather his team—might he as special as ever.

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