What Will Be Chelsea's Strongest Defence in 2015/16 Season?
The signing of Asmir Begovic this week has led to much debate surrounding Chelsea.
For all that's been said, regardless of whether or not the former Stoke City goalkeeper is going to be playing too often next season, Jose Mourinho's team are much stronger than before he arrived.
The loss of Petr Cech to Arsenal meant there was no real quality back-up for Thibaut Courtois in goal, something Begovic now provides.
If there was a chink in Chelsea's defensive armour, it's been sufficiently repaired.
Mourinho knows who his No. 1 goalkeeper will be for the coming campaign, so now he can begin to plan ahead with the rest of his rearguard in mind.
As he contemplates that, the Chelsea manager would do well to surmise that there's little need to change what is ultimately a winning formula. The back four of Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill, John Terry and Cesar Azpilicueta is as good as it gets in the Premier League.
Chelsea had the top flight's best defensive record last term, repeating their success from 2013/14, when not even champions Manchester City could rival their dominance at the back.
That quartet has been the foundation of everything Chelsea have achieved since Mourinho's west London return, and there's plenty more life left in it yet.
Mourinho needs to bulk up his options, although any signings the manager makes should be with the long term in mind. He shouldn't be looking to break up his central defensive partnership or replace his right-back and left-back.
Chelsea's focus for now must be on adding bulk to support them.
As well as looking at external options, that means continuing to develop Kurt Zouma the way Mourinho did last year. In the the space of a few months, the Frenchman rapidly emerged as a star of the future, and it's vital he builds on that.
Zouma remains a raw talent, though. Mourinho's use of him up to now has been perfect in every sense.
He hasn't allowed Zouma to be exposed too often, breaking him in steadily at times when it's been of benefit to the player and team.
It started off with the early cup games before a run of back-to-back appearances in the new year when Cahill needed a breather. Zouma's displays bred confidence throughout the team—notably in the player, who showed he is capable of following in the considerable footprints of the more senior professionals at Stamford Bridge.
Being capable and being ready are different factors to consider. Terry wasn't a Chelsea regular until he had turned 21, and even then, he only got the nod after making close to 50 appearances for the club.
Claudio Ranieri built him up to the point that few could knock him down, and Zouma is going through the same process with Mourinho.
It's going to be another season yet before we can start to contemplate Zouma as a regular starter.
By that time, Terry's Chelsea career could well be over. With another one-year contract signed long ago, it comes with no guarantee that he will be offered another when 2015/16 is out.
His time is now, however. As is Cahill's, who has proved to be the ideal partner for his captain.
Cahill has fought off the challenge of David Luiz to prove a shrewd investment given that he cost Chelsea a mere £7 million. He's international-class, and still being on the right side of 30—he doesn't reach that milestone until December this year—he has plenty more years ahead of him to be a big part of Mourinho's Chelsea mission.
The same can be said for Ivanovic and certainly Azpilicueta, a player who continues to defy logic with his performances on the left side of defence despite being a right-back by trade.
It's no mean feat to first end Ashley Cole's Chelsea career before ensuring Filipe Luis' has never quite started.
Both are or were left-backs of world renown, yet Azpilicueta's form has left them in his wake.
Azpilicueta is the ideal Mourinho defender. He doesn't come with any gimmicks—he just does a job. And that job is providing structure, a solid base on which Chelsea have sealed the Capital One Cup and Premier League title.
It's no-frills stuff, but then that is the art of defending. It's about being ugly when the time calls for it, even one-dimensional if you like in the attempt to prevent the opposition from scoring.
There are plenty of managers who have forgotten that trait in the pursuit of glory, and it's been to their detriment.
If Mourinho makes changes to his trusted defence now, he could follow down that road himself.
Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes.
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