Andre Villas-Boas insists Chelsea can mount a strong challenge to regain the Premier League title even though his first match in charge ended in a frustrating 0-0 draw at Stoke.

Villas-Boas watched his new team fail to secure an opening day victory for the first time in 12 seasons as Stoke produced a typically obdurate display at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday.

"Last year we finished second. We are here because we want to finish first. Regarding the transfer market, we don't know what we're going to do," the former Porto boss said.

"Maybe we will, maybe we won't (sign more players). There's plenty of time to make those decisions. The market will get extremely frenetic in the last few weeks. That's the nature of it.

"But yes, winning the league is what we all want. I'd have enjoyed my first game better if I'd have won. I couldn't be pleased with a point but I think it's one of the most difficult grounds to play away from home.

"For our title challenge, I think one point at Stoke is not bad. It's not the greatest start to the Premier League, of course, but we're happy enough that we raised the level of the game in the second half. Now we just have to raise our level again."

Agence France-Presse