Fernando Torres believes Chelsea have made progress this season, even though they will end it without any silverware for the first time in three years.
Chelsea play at Cardiff on Sunday with their title hopes over and having lost against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals.
The match could be Torres’s last for the club, with Chelsea looking to sell a number of players this summer.
But the Spain international feels Chelsea are in a better position to challenge for trophies next term.
He said: “We are building very good things for the future. As the manager says, it was a season to see where we are and we've competed again for the Premier League after a few seasons when we were out of the title race very soon. We also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League and last season we couldn’t even get out of the group stage. Again we improved this season in the Champions League from the previous one.
“But I think the young players learning to play as a group is another positive to take from the season.”
Jose Mourinho is also feeling upbeat, despite it being one of the few times in his coaching career he has ended the season without a trophy.
The manager, who announced he was ‘The Happy One’ on returning to the club last summer, said: “There is a feeling the best is yet to come and, for sure, we will be in the top positions next season, fighting for the title.
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“I am still The Happy One. I enjoyed the season in many aspects, I love this football country.”
