We did it - Chelsea champions again for the fifth time in their history, fourth time in a decade, and first time in five years. The third league title won by Jose Mourinho and the thirteenth trophy in the Abramovich era. Chelsea always seem to win when the year ends in a five - 1955 2005 2015 not to mention they were formed in 1905!
Chelsea's march to the title started with Arsenal away, and there was much spice in the build up as it was Wenger v Mourinho again. Wenger had never beaten Mourinho and much was being made of this fact. Fabregas returning to his old club - he gave Arsenal many years of service and went to Barcelona when he realised his Arsenal career was producing no trophies. Typical Arsenal fans showing little class by giving him a poor reception unlike the great reception Chelsea fans gave Mata last week. Chelsea had a problem up front as Remy was still injured and Drogba also picked up an injury in mid week, so in the end, Jose opted for no strikers up front with Costa still being out. Willian, Ramires Oscar and Hazard up front were selected as our forwards with Fabregas and Matic sitting in front of the familiar back four.
There wasn't much to report on this game as Chelsea set themselves up to do a job on Arsenal and get the necessary result, something Jose knows how to do so well. There was a strong early claim for a penalty when Fabregas (getting booed during every touch) lofted a ball over the top setting Oscar clear, only for Arsenal keeper Ospina to completely take the Brazilian out, not before he managed to get a touch on the ball diverting it goalwards only for Bellerin to clear off the line. Oscar needed immediate medical treatment and would be substitued for Drogba at half time after replays showed he had a taken a blow to the head with some force. Fabregas also had a penalty appeal turned down, only for the referee to show him a yellow card for simulation much to the joy of the deluded gooners. Chelsea's best chance came before half time as Willian slipped Ramires through - six yards from goal he only had Ospina to beat. The Brazillians tame effort with the outside of his right foot though was easily gathered by the keeper. Chelsea would not get a better chance. Arsenal themselves had a chance of sorts as Ozil fired through a crowd of players straight at Courtois - their only shot on target.
Drogba replaced Oscar at half time with Fabregas taking over the number 10 role and Ramires dropping back. Aside from a long range Drogba shot that was easily saved and a Mertasacker shot through a crowded penalty area that went wide after Courtois had punched a corner, there were little chances in this match as Chelsea did a superb defensive performance on Arsenal, especially John Terry. One Twitter user joked that the highlights of Arsenal v Chelsea was just John Terry continuously heading the ball away. As Arsenal pressed late on for a winner, Cazorla dragged a shot wide and in stoppage time, Ozil and Welbeck missed-kicked a low cross as it finished a stalemate. Chants of 'boring boring Chelsea' ran around the Emirates at full time as Chelsea's superb defensive performance took a battering. It did set Mourinho up for a brilliant response to the critics - 'Ten years without a title - that's boring'. There was also praise for John Terry who looked all set to finish an outstanding season as one of our best players, with Mourinho calling this performance as Terry's best ever for Chelsea. Later that night Terry, along with Ivanovic, Cahill, Hazard, Matic and Costa were selected in the PFA team of the year with Hazard winning the top prize of player of the year, just as Terry did a decade ago under Mourinho.
The Arsenal result meant we were two more wins away from winning the league and the first of those possible victories came in our game in hand away to Leicester. The only changes to the line up was that Drogba was deemed fit enough to start and replaced Oscar, however Courtois was not deemed fit enough and was dropped in place of Cech. Chelsea took a while to get going in this game and aside from Leicester being so unlucky they were forced to make two early substitutions because of injury, no real incidents of any note arrived until the 40th minute when Leicester almost took the lead - Konchesky's right foot shot threatened to squeeze in at Cechs near post, only for Cech to fingertip it against the post. There was a bit of ping-pong that followed which was finished by Albrighton seeing his shot blocked on the line. A bit of a scare but it didn't spring Chelsea into first gear just yet, as Leicester took the lead right on half time. Vardy escaped down the left and sent a low cross in and due to the crazy weather (it started off with sunshine, then heavy rain and then the first half ended with sunshine again but a very slippery pitch) a few defenders slipped in attempting to break up the attack, only for Albrighton to arrive at the far post to side foot home and put the hosts 1-0 up at the break.
One of the great things about Mourinho though is you always seem to have faith that he will turn things around at half time. Chelseas response right at the start of the second half was worthy of champions - as Ivanovic sent home a low cross for Drogba to turn home. The Ivorian almost added a second minutes later as he sidefooted Fabregas' pull back high over the bar. Chelsea were in control now but had to wait until the 79th minute before they took the lead as Cahills header from a corner was saved by Schmeichel only for Terry to shin the rebound home from close range. Chelsea fans could then be heard sarcastically chanting 'boring boring Chelsea' in response to Arsenal's ridiculous chant at the weekend. The chant was immediately interrupted though by an outstanding goal from Ramires as he smashed home a left footed strike from the edge of the area into the top corner. Fantastic goal to seal the win. Chelsea now one win away from being champions again ...
Crystal Palace were the visitors to Stamford Bridge on May 3rd, in good form under Alan Pardew. The only changes were Courtois coming back in place of Cech and Ramires getting ill in the warm up and having to go straight to hospital, so Cuadrado coning in for him. I still don't see the improvement in replacing Schurrle with Cuadrado. Schurrle wasn't having a good season but I'm not sure if Jose has been a bit too ruthless with him - Cuadrado has been signed 'for next season' apparently as he may not be ready but then why not keep Schurrle and sign Cuadrado in the summer? I get Chelsea are doing well with keeping in the rules of FFP and it was a good bit of business but Cuadrado hasn't been great since he arrived, I think I'd rather we kept Schurrle. Although a few players have come out and said that Jose has a sixth sense when it comes to knowing when to sell players - and it clearly hasn't made a difference anyway!
An early ball from Fabregas was almost headed in by Drogba but the Chelsea striker was inches away from making contact. A Drogba free kick that went straight at Speroni and a fantastic Terry block rolling back the years, preventing a certain goal from Puncheon, where the only notable incidents of the first half. It looked set for 0-0 at half time before Eden Hazard charged into the penalty area and was brought down after trying to squeeze through Mariappa and McArthur. His spot kick though, using his tried and trusted 'Mendieta technique' failed this time as Speroni made the save, but Hazard had the luck of the bounce and headed in the rebound to put Chelsea ahead at the break. The second half saw the atmosphere crank up a notch as the title neared closer and closer - Ivanovic and Puncheon exchanged wide shots, while Cahil fired over and Zaha forced Courtois into making a save after being found unmarked at the back post. Nearing the end of the game, Chelsea hit Palace on the counter and Willian finished with a wide shot. But with Obi Mikel coming on for Cuadrado at half time, Chelsea were always set to close the game out and get the result they needed - as they had been doing for the second half of the season - and inevitably the game did finish 1-0 and Chelsea had the title. Que celebrations all over West London. I watched the game in Brogans just down the road and the atmosphere was electric - Queens 'We are the champions' blasted out at full time along with all the other classic Chelsea songs likely to be heard on match-day, such as Blue is the Colour, Liquidator and Blue day among others.
So a decade on from 2005 we're champions again, and should we win all our remaining games we could reach 92 points, which would be the second highest in the Premier League era, second to our haul of 95 in 2005! Mourinho wins another title (it was nice to see him embrace his family behind the goal immediately after the final whistle) and his record since 2002 now reads 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 1st as well as 2 Premeira Liga titles, 1 Champions league and 1 Uefa cup with Porto, 3 Premier league titles, 3 league cups and 1 FA cup with Chelsea, 2 Serie A titles, 1 Coppa Italia and 1 Champions league with Inter Milan, 1 La Liga and 1 Copa Del Ray with Real Madrid. All the talk now will be about summer acquisitions, i.e how to make the team better and maybe even win the Champions League. Once I submit my final report for the last three games I'll also have a summary report for the season as a whole. In the meantime though - let the celebrations begin! CHAMPIONS!!!
