Former Chelsea winger Damien Duff believes that the club are in a strong position to defend the Premier League title next season.

The Blues ended a five-year wait for the title last season and Duff believes that manager Jose Mourinho will ensure that they are fully prepared to challenge once again when the new campaign starts in August.

"Chelsea will be just as good, if not better, this time around," the Daily Star quotes Duff as saying.

"So long as Mourinho is there, Chelsea will be strong. But to say they will be the dominant force for years and years, I am not so sure.

"Man City will always be strong and Man ­United will buy again. Arsenal, ­especially after their FA Cup win, will be confident of pushing on and mounting a real challenge for the title."

Chelsea will begin the defence of their title with a clash at home to Swansea City on August 8.