Gary Cahill is feeling good ahead of the new Premier League season despite yesterday’s Community Shield defeat to Arsenal.
The Blues lost 1-0 after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s first-half strike and then struggled to create chances to level despite enjoying plenty of possession.
Chelsea have another friendly, against Fiorentina on Wednesday, before the defence of their Premier League title begins at home to Swansea City on Saturday evening.
“We’re confident, we have a good squad and still have another game and more time to train before we start,” said Cahill.
“We’ll be strong but it’s a tough league and everyone else will be strong as well.
“Arsenal have started well, they’ve got a good squad and I think they’ll be one of many pushing at the top this season.
“I’m sure everyone has that belief at the start of the season. People talk and talk but the bottom line is when the season starts.”
Chelsea have yet to win in pre-season, having lost to New York Bulls and drawn with Paris St Germain and Barcelona.
But Cahill doesn’t believe they were far away from victory at Wembley.
“The game’s been won on a piece of individual play to smash it in the top corner, but chance-wise we had the majority of the play,” he added.
“I think in terms of possession we had the majority of the game but it’s the scoreline that matters and we’re disappointed with that.
“They started the game well, but in the second half it was the opposite of that.
“We felt we were on top and they were sat back, and we had a lot of ball in their half. We did everything to score.”
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