To launch the new season with not one, but two journeys to Wembley on the same weekend speaks volumes about Chelsea’s intent.

Chelsea ladies face Notts County in the FA Women’s Cup final today (Saturday), with the men taking on Arsenal – including Petr Cech – on Sunday in the Community Shield.

This gets the awkward business of seeing a long-time Blues favourite wearing an alien shirt out of the way.

John Terry reckons Cech’s transfer will gift the Gunners 15 goals, with Sunday’s clash being an interesting indicator.

Jose Mourinho has been upbeat, but measured, on the first team’s pre-season jaunt to the USA, while the U21s have been enjoying a scattering of matches across Europe, including a 2-1 defeat in Salzburg, that left one squad member on crutches.

Last weekend the U21s pitched up in Bergerac to play the French version of Leyton Orient. A 4-4 friendly proved entertaining, while the youngsters got a chance to murmur “Bonjour” to a string of local dignitaries at a community wine-tasting at Chateau Thenac... a stunning vineyard conveniently owned by Roman Abramovich’s best mate.

Forty guests sipped a floral 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, while the young Chelsea stars stuck to orange juice. It was a good way of introducing the Blues youth to the ambassadorial side of their roles.

So how are Chelsea's first team positioned to defend their league crown? The spotlight is on Radamel Falcao, whose unhappy loan spell at Manchester United last season drained confidence following glittering seasons at Porto and Atletico Madrid.

He enjoys a bond with Jose Mourinho, whose faith in the player will be repaid with loyalty and effort.

If anyone can get a player firing again, it’s Jose. Falcao was on target in the pre-season penalty shoot-out which gave Chelsea victory over PSG in North Carolina, and the 29-year-old Colombian’s self-belief is surely rising.

He’s reunited with muckers Thibaut Courtois and Diego Costa, with whom he will alternate.