José Mourinho wants Chelsea to don the garb of title contenders at Burnley

Chelsea’s manager José Mourinho talking to his new signing Cesc Fábregas at a pre-season match. Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images

On Monday night Chelsea must dress appropriately. Last season José Mourinho complained that some of his players did not sufficiently grasp the differing demands of the Premier League – they had, said the Portuguese in a memorable metaphor, a tendency to wear jeans to weddings and smoking jackets for a stroll in the park. Turf Moor this evening will be no place for sports casual.
Mourinho is confident that the changes that his club have made this summer mean his team will not look as ill-suited for purpose as they did on some such occasions last term. But Burnley will be hellbent on putting a dent in that confidence.
Sean Dyche’s newly promoted side, who lost just twice in 23 home Championship matches last season, will be propelled by the raucous encouragement of the majority of a 22,500 capacity crowd at Turf Moor, a compact, at times austere ground in which Chelsea will have to prove their fortitude to prevail. It is a trial that will evoke memories of the trip to Selhurst Park in March, when Chelsea were outfought and beaten by newly promoted Crystal Palace – that defeat, and other timid performances against well-drilled, skilled and hyper-motivated underdogs ultimately cost Mourinho’s men the title.
No one gained more points than Chelsea last season against teams in the top half of the table but the Stamford Bridge club were only sixth-best when it came to matches against teams in the bottom half. That is one of the shortcomings that Mourinho believes he has addressed in the summer as he seeks to avert a third successive season without a trophy.