Good afternoon! The new Premier League season is almost here, which means it's time to hear from the managers ahead of the first round of fixtures. Jose Mourinho is due to talk to the media in the next 15 minutes, and we'll be bringing you all the details.

Chelsea actually have a little longer to wait than most teams in the top flight. They take on Burnley, who were promoted from the Championship last season, on Monday evening. It will be interesting to hear what the Special One has to say about the Burnley manager Sean Dyche, who the club's fans nicknamed Ginger Mourinho.

Hopefully, Mourinho will also have an update on Didier Drogba's injury. The re-signed striker picked up an ankle knock in pre-season, and missed their final friendly against Real Sociedad earlier this week, but the manager has already hinted that the Ivorian could be ready to go at Turf Moor.

The Chelsea boss can probably also expect to face questions on the transfer market as well as the departure of Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis last night. The Eagles famously beat Chelsea under Pulis last season as the Welshman guided the club to safety.

While there are no easy fixtures in the Premier League, Chelsea certainly won't have been too disappointed when the fixture list was published earlier this summer. The Blues face two of the three newly promoted sides in August, but do face a tricky trip to Goodison Park just before the international break.

Right then, Mourinho is in place and ready to face the media, so let's see what he has to say...

Mourinho starts by reflecting on Chelsea's pre-season campaign. The manager says that it has been a long build up, and that he is ready for "real competition".

The Portuguese seems fairly relaxed as he adds: "I am not saying I am nervous or feeling something special, I'm just happy to be back to competing and the players are the same."

When asked about the additions that he has made to the squad during the summer, which includes the likes of Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas, he says: "We have bought some key players having analysed our squad and we believe these new players bring us to another dimension."

A reporter asks Mourinho if the team can win the Premier League title this season, and it's a measured response from the manager: "Yes we are a title contender. If you want me to say we will win the league I can't, because I respect this competition."

Turning his attention to the club's opening match of the season, he says: "To win against Burnley is the first step, and to win against Burnley will be very hard." He's right to be wary, Burnley were among the favourites for relegation in the Championship last season, but went on to secure automatic promotion, so they're a side that can upset the odds.

One of the big stories in pre-season has been the competition between Petr Cech and Thibaut Courtois to the first-choice goalkeeper for Chelsea. Both have had action in pre-season, although Courtois has had a bit more playing time. However, Mourinho insists that he is yet to decide which will get the nod on Monday, but believes that the club has "two of the three best in the world".

When asked more generally about the squad, Mourinho insists that he is happy with his current players, praising their youth and experience.

This time last year, the manager predicted that there would be six clubs involved in the title race, and he's sticking with that prediction for the new season.

Continuing his upbeat approach, Mourinho says: "I told my players today that every one of them in the squad, I am happy to have them."

As the conference draws to a close, he makes some interesting remarks on the transfer market: "The market is open. You never know what can happen. You don't know the reaction of players in these last days."

Mourinho is asked about his run-ins with the FA last season, to which he light-heartedly offers: "It's easier to say they had run-ins with me. You should ask them not me." The remarks are met with laughter by the assembled media.

And after once again insisting that he is happy with his squad, Mourinho bids the media farewell and makes his exit. It was certainly a positive, optimistic set of answers from the Chelsea boss, who seems fairly content heading into the new season.

Well that's all from Chelsea's press conference, but stick around as later this afternoon Liverpool's Brendan Rodgers and Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal talk to the media, and join us again on Monday for live coverage of Chelsea's match against Burnley. Until then, thanks for joining me this lunchtime, goodbye.