Mourinho plays generation game to keep Chelsea fresh

Jose Mourinho, the Chelsea manager, is confident that the club's policy of signing established names and emerging prospects will preserve their ascendancy in the Premiership.

Michael Ballack and Andrei Shevchenko have joined this summer but at 29 years old neither has been bought with the future in mind. Instead, Mourinho has gone for the talented African pair of Salomon Kalou, 20, and John Obi Mikel, 19, to safeguard Chelsea's long-term future.

"We've made some really top signings for next season, champions like Michael Ballack and Andrei Shevchenko," Mourinho said. "They have great status which they will bring to our team of champions.

"But we also have young boys like Salomon Kalou and John Obi Mikel, players with big potential. I have also signed a top professional in goalkeeper Hilario, who has a big history with me in Portugal."

Chelsea's business in the transfer window is not finished yet with Mourinho looking to sign a full-back. The Arsenal defender Ashley Cole is reportedly close to joining, possibly in time for the club's pre-season tour to the United States, which departs on Tuesday.

Mourinho is also interested in the Italian World Cup winner Gianluca Zambrotta but must wait while the 29-year-old Juventus player attempts to engineer his preferred move to Milan.

"We are a team of champions and as champions we have high expectations at the start of every season," the Chelsea manager said. "We triumphed for the second time in the Premiership last season but we must keep moving on to the next level in everything we do.

"Including the FA Community Shield, we are playing for five trophies and we will always play to win every game," Mourinho added. "It isn't going to be easy, especially as the other teams will be chasing us."