Chelsea must avoid slow start - Courtois

Under Jose Mourinho two years ago, the champions went into the 2015/16 campaign without recording a win in their pre-season, which including defeat to Arsenal in the FA Community Shield. Chelsea then took eleven points from their first eleven games and never recovered as they fininshed the Premier League in tenth position.

When asked about a fast start to the campaiagn, Courtois said, 'a good start helps keep that level throughout the season. It happened to us two years ago. We didn't start well, but we can't think about that. We have to move forward and work hard and hope it doesn't happen.

'For Leicester, the year they were champions was extraordinary for them. The year before they struggled until the last week to avoid relegation. So for them it was maybe not bad to finish 12th. But for us, our aim is to fight for a title until the last day of the season. If not, to be as high as possible, but obviously with Champions League football.'

Chelsea take on Arsenal in a repeat of the 2015 FA Community Shield at Wembley in a weeks time, and Courtois says he will not be treating the game as a friendly. He added, 'there is a bit of honour as well, we want to win our games, we want to do well. For example, in the Community Shield, there is a trophy in play. People might say it doesn't count at the end of the season but it's still good to start the season with a victory in the Community Shield.'