We want more: Tuchel

Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso (left) and Callum Hudson-Odoi during a training session recently. Pic/Getty Images

Chelsea will aim to start the new season as they ended the last with more silverware when the European champions face Europa League winners Villarreal in the UEFA Super Cup here on Wednesday.

Thomas Tuchel's stunning impact since taking charge of the Blues in January has raised expectations for Chelsea to challenge in all competitions this season, particularly with Romelu Lukaku on the verge of returning to Stamford Bridge for a club record fee of 97 million pounds (Rs 1.005).

Thomas Tuchel

Tuchel's men beat Manchester City to lift the Champions League in May, just five months after he replaced the sacked Frank Lampard. Victory in Porto was Chelsea's third over City in six weeks towards the end of the season. Now they have the longer term goal of dethroning Pep Guardiola's side as English champions.

"We want to win, we want to compete and of course we want to be successful," said Tuchel ahead of his side's return to competitive action.

Blues up for the challenge

"This is in Chelsea's nature and of course we are up for the challenge. We will try to compete for every title in every competition we enter but I also think it will be a huge step forward if we can maintain the same quality, attitude and effort that we showed last season," he added.

As many of Europe's traditional giants have been squeezed by the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, the backing of billionaire Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich has again allowed Chelsea to strengthen at a time of crisis.

A 220 million pounds spending spree on Edouard Mendy, Ben Chilwell, Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz and Timo Werner last summer was rewarded with Champions League glory.

Lukaku set to return

Now Lukaku looks set to return to provide the missing piece of a proven goalscorer. The Belgium forward's move should be completed before Chelsea's EPL opener against Crystal Palace on Saturday, but will not be registered in time to face Villarreal.

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No. of UEFA Super Cups Spanish sides have won, more than any other country

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