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Jose Mourinho’s side took the lead when Oscar whipped a free kick which was intended as a cross beyond Lukasz Fabianski.

Arsenal fans will hope that 33-year-old Cech – who made only six Premier League starts at Chelsea last season – is just a victim of rust, rather than the subject of any long-term decline.

Jose Mourinho’s side twice had the lead, but paid the price for Courtois’ rash challenge on Swansea striker Bafetimbi Gomis as the France worldwide raced through on the counterattack. When I close my eyes and think of me in a football kit, then it is a red one playing...

Much has been made of Chelsea’s failure to attract a box-office name from outside the Premier League this summer.

Chelsea are reportedly set to improve their offer for John Stones.

It was another impressive opening-day display by Garry Monk’s Swansea, who won 2-1 at Manchester United a year ago, and added weight to Mourinho’s prediction that Chelsea will face a fight to retain their title.

CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho found a new target for his criticism after his team was lucky to escape with a 2-2 draw at home against Swansea to kick off its English Premier League title defence.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t get the rub of the green today”, Norwich coach Alex Neil said.

United have scored more than a quarter of the goals in their entire history in the 23 seasons of the Premier League – while their next loss will bring an unwanted record of achieving their 1,500th loss in the top flight.

Chelsea were fortunate not to become the first ever Premier League champions to start their title defence with defeat after Swansea threatened an opening-day upset.

In a hectic spell midway through the first half, Oscar put the hosts ahead in the 23rd minute, Andre Ayew leveled in the 29th, and Chelsea’s lead was restored with an own goal by Swansea defender Federico Fernandez.

He said: “It’s a very, very competitive league where each team gives absolutely everything they’ve got in every game they play“.

Diego Costa aside, Chelsea were very fortunate with injuries last season.

When Thibaut Courtois received a straight red for a foul on Swansea’s Bafétimbi Gomis, Chelsea called up their reserve ‘keeper.

Gomis converted the penalty that allowed Swansea to equalise for the second time and ultimately denied Chelsea the opportunity to kick-start their defence of their Premier League title with a victory.