The former Arsenal and England winger still has a soft spot for Chelsea and believes this is going to be a big season for them. "I think, with Mr. Abramovich behind them, they're on a different planet to everyone else," he said. "Whatever they want they get.
"I think they'll be very successful this season. I've got a lot of time for Jose Mourinho. I think he's been cute in getting Steve Clarke on his staff. Steve knows the game and the British mentality.
"But you've got to say that anyone good enough to win the Champions League knows what they're doing."
Mourinho's £5 million signing of Serbian striker Mateja Kezman from PSV Eindhoven looks like a sound investment. He made a scoring debut to save Mourinho from defeat in his first game and although he missed several good chances, he had the energy and the wit to be in the right place at the right time.
"When he's sharp, with quality midfield players creating behind him, I think he will be a real good player for us," said Mourinho.
Chelsea were without most of their big stars like Frank Lampard, John Terry, Wayne Bridge, William Gallas, Arjen Robben, Claude Makele, Adrian Mutu and Damien Duff.
Subsequently, Mourinho had to mix and match. He was short of creativity in midfield and had to play Geremi wide on the left. Alexi Smertin, who spent last season on loan to Portsmouth, filled the holding role in front of the back four impressively though it's hard to see how he will get into the starting line up when all the players are available.
Joe Cole, Celestine Babayaro, Scott Parker and the centre back pairing of Robert Huth and 19 year old Steve Watt will face a similar fight for first team places.
Chelsea had most possession and were never really stretched but fell behind, partly because of young Watt's error, in the 42nd minute when Tommy Mooney fired home a long crossfield pass from former Chelsea midfield player Rob Wolleaston.
It wasn't until the 67th minute that Chelsea equalised, Kezman gathering Eidur Gudjohnsen's pass to drive in his shot from close range.
These two, of course, could be the strike partnership when the real stuff starts against Manchester United on the opening day. That game will give Jose a far more realistic idea of what lies ahead.
