Roberto Di Matteo on the touchline. Picture: Anthony Devlin

Roberto Di Matteo’s side compete for trophies on seven fronts but the league remains the most important

Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo believes his side have some way to go in order to catch title rivals from last year, Manchester City and Manchester United.

The Blues finished 25 points behind the duo with the title going to the Etihad Stadium on goal difference but that is all in the past.

“[Manchester City] are last season’s champions,” Di Matteo said.

“They’ll be the team to beat, even though United were very close to them.

“Those two teams are probably a little bit ahead, but the champions we want to chase.”

Chelsea have an unprecedented seven trophies to go for this season, starting in Sunday’s traditional curtain-raiser against Manchester City, which is being played this year at Villa Park.

They follow that with the Uefa Super Cup at the end of August and will travel to Japan in December to compete in the Fifa Club World Cup.

“Our biggest aim, or our ambition, is to be able to be challenging at the right end of the season for the trophies that are still available,” Di Matteo said.

“We are going to be in a couple of competitions which are new to us, so they’re an opportunity for the club and the players, but we certainly have to do better in the Premier League.”