JOSE MOURINHO SAYS Manchester City and Southampton were Chelsea’s most difficult opponents last season. The Blues romped to top-flight glory in 2014-15, finishing eight points ahead of second-placed Manchester City to add to their League Cup success.

They were, however, given stern tests by City and the Saints both home and away and Mourinho pointed to the games against the two sides as their most tricky encounters.

He remarked: “I have to be pragmatic and also choose two, the only two teams we couldn’t beat. We didn’t lose against them but we didn’t beat them. Manchester City, two matches and two draws, and Southampton, two matches and two draws.”

Mourinho also hailed his most recent title win as the most rewarding, because of the greater competition in the Premier League last term.

“[The Premier League] is more difficult than ever, I would say it was the most difficult one. It’s very competitive with good teams,” the Portuguese told Chelsea’s official website.

“The mentality is very important and, in this country, even the teams without the same human potential as the top teams really fight and really believe. Every game becomes very competitive and mentality is a big part of it.

“At the same time, the good financial situation that every club has allows even the smaller teams and the promoted teams to get good players, have good squads and to be competitive.”

Mourinho also reflected on his favourite moment of the season and believes that his side showed their title credentials from their very first match against Burnley, during which Andre Schurrle added the finishing touches to a spectacular team goal.

“I would say the first match of the season at Burnley [was my favourite moment] because it was the first feeling of the quality of football Chelsea could play,” he continued.

“We played fantastically well in that match and we scored, in my opinion, the most beautiful goal collectively speaking, which was Schurrle’s goal.

“I also have to choose the last seconds of Chelsea against Crystal Palace because that’s when the referee finished the game and we were mathematically champions.”