Chelsea don't need to sign lots of players... we have a great team already - Matic

The sight of Petr Cech in an Arsenal goalkeeping jersey last week won't just have jarred with Chelsea fans. There are plenty at the club who find it difficult to reconcile the fact that their title rivals have been strengthened by obtaining a goalkeeper whose name is synonymous with the hugely successful Chelsea team of the last 10 years.

Jose Mourinho explained over the weekend that he credited owner Roman Abramovich for demonstrating a broad mind by rewarding Cech for his loyalty over 11 years by ensuring he could move to the club which suited his family life best.

And whilst that sentiment would be echoed by Chelsea players, on the pitch they know that they now face a more formidable team than before. 'Petr is a great guy and a great keeper,' said Nemanja Matic

'It is going to be a very important signing for Arsenal. I am not happy because of that. We know that he is very professional. He is one of the best keepers. And I hope this season he does not perform as he did here for 10, 11 years. I am happy for him because he gets to stay in London, which for him and his family was very important. I wish him all the best.' 

Compatriot Branislav Ivanovic takes a similar view, wishing his friend all the best - just not on the pitch. 'This is football, he wanted to play,' said Ivanovic. 

'I can say only 500 times thank you to him – he gave us so much pleasure, making the history of the club, winning trophies. As a person we will miss him in the changing room. His decision was he wanted to play and I wish him all the best personally. Just try not to win any trophies.

The Cech issue highlights a wider point. Whilst Chelsea are expected to add John Stones to their squad, otherwise their recruitment this summer – Radamel Falcao for Didier Drogba and Asmir Begovic for Cech – has been replacing like for like. 

Meanwhile, Arsenal have strengthened in obtaining Cech; Manchester City, with Raheem Sterling, Fabian Delph and Patrick Roberts have been busily addressing the eight-point gap between themselves and Chelsea; and Manchester United, with the most ground to make up, have been the most extravagant in recruiting Memphis Depay, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin and Matteo Darmian.

Matic insists Chelsea remain unfazed, with Mourinho insisting all the players and staff will have to improve on their title-winning season to stay ahead of the pack. 'I think last year Man United, Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham also had good teams ,very good teams. Our team was champion and a team that is champion is ready for everything. I think we have enough.

'Maybe other teams will sign lots of players but that may be worse for them. It is sometimes better to stay with the same team for stability. I am sure if we stick to doing what we are capable of, we can achieve a lot this season.

'The team which is the champions has enough to play the next season and do the same. I think we lost just four games in all competitions. If we do the same again next season, this will be enough to be champions. I know it will be difficult to repeat but we will try to do it and maybe better

'It's a different (challenge) of course. It's going to be more difficult because when you're champions every team wants to win against you. They play with a special motivation against champions. It will be more difficult for us - but we'll be ready. We know what we've got to do and know that when you play for Chelsea you have to win every game that is possible. Sometimes it's not possible. But we've got to win 95 per cent of the games. We are ready for everything.'

Ivanovic concurs, arguing that the relative ease with which Chelsea eventually won the title would inevitably provoke a reaction. 'When teams are not happy with their situations, they need to make big signings but we know what we have to do,' said Ivanovic. 'We have to look at ourselves, be strong mentally and more ready for extra pressure.

'I think every team every year gets better. For me all the big teams, especially United and City want to be stronger, they are not happy about finishing behind us. They want to champions and that's why they are making big signings. We know that they will sign good players. City want to play in an attacking way but we are ready for them. We have played against Sterling before and we know how good he is as an individual. He will need a period to adapt to his new team.'

The one area where Chelsea can improve is in their European record. Having won the trophy under Roberto Di Matteo in 2012, they have fallen short since Mourinho came back: knocked out in the semi finals in 2013 by Atletico Madrid and then, more embarrassingly, being knocked out of the last 16 by 10-man Paris St Germain last season

And according to Matic the players are aware of the need to do better and challenge again for Europe's premier trophy. 'The Champions League is something special for every club and every player,' said Matic. 'We will try to reach the final and win the Champions League if it is possible.

Last season we were first in the group and we didn't lose a game in the competition. Next season, we must do the same but get further and compete with the big teams.'