John Terry has warned Chelsea's Premiership rivals that the champions have lost none of their desire as they chase a hat-trick of titles.
The Blues, who play Middlesbrough at the Riverside tomorrow night, started their campaign with a resounding 3-0 win over Manchester City, despite Jose Mourinho's pre-match fears his team were not ready.
Terry said: "After the Community Shield, maybe a few people said Chelsea are beatable. Any team is beatable but we bounced back and showed the character we have shown the last two years.
"If we get that character, get the football and get the team spirit we have had the last couple of years, we have a very good chance of achieving something special."
Liverpool and Arsenal both dropped two points on the opening day but Manchester United started with a bang - hammering Fulham 5-1 at Old Trafford. Terry said: "Straight away we have a two-point difference over Liverpool and Arsenal and that could be important."
Seven players have left the first-team squad since the end of last season and Dutch international Khalid Boulahrouz became the sixth summer signing when he completed his £6m move from Hamburg.
Versatile defender Boulahrouz, 24, signed a three-year contract yesterday after passing his medical.
