Barclays Premier League 2014-2015 Campaign: Chelsea FC are
CHAMPIONS!
Jose Mourinho relied on core players to return Premier League
glory to ChelseaJob done. The Premier League is now over, having
been won at a canter with three games remaining. Chelsea have
enjoyed the denouement to their campaign, basking in the glory of
being champions without having the pressure to win games.
An extended celebration climaxing with an open-top bus parade
through the streets of SW6 has been wallowed in, and deservedly so.
Each element of the team has been crucial to the collective
success, with different periods of the season seeing different
areas emerge as the focal point of the side. And yet it has not
been a case of relying on vast resources to achieve their goal; a
stable core was instead trusted to quest for the holy grail.
It has been no secret that Chelsea's greatest strength in depth
over the last nine months has been between the posts. In Thibaut
Courtois and Petr Cech, the Blues boasted the best duo of
goalkeepers not only in England but in Europe. That Courtois has
been selected regularly in favour of his venerated colleague shows
in itself how good he is without even looking at his actual
contributions.
Errors from the Belgian have been few and far between, and when
they have occurred he has almost always immediately responded with
something otherworldly. Poor distribution at Everton was
compensated by a quite stunning save from Kevin Mirallas in the
second half to ensure a two-goal cushion. His triple save at Hull
City came after he had gifted Abel Hernandez the equaliser in the
first half.
Chelsea's embarrassment of riches was clearest when there was
never any question of Courtois playing injured, even if suffering
the most minor of ailments. With a player of Cech's pedigree
waiting in the wings, there was no point in fielding a goalkeeper
who was not 100 percent fit, meaning that there was always a
world-class stopper behind the back four. Cech, as if it even needs
saying, was exemplary when called upon.
As for the back four, what a season they have had. A case could
easily be made for all of them to be named in a team of the year,
and not just because they conceded the fewest goals in the
division. In John Terry, Chelsea had the best central defender by a
distance, a player rejuvenated by Jose Mourinho's return to the
club. The fire in the captain's belly has never dimmed, and neither
has his ability despite the constant desire from many to write him
off. His display at Arsenal saw him receive nationwide praise,
though in truth, he had been performing like that all season.
Alongside him, Gary Cahill was excellent. There was a dip in
form in the middle of the campaign that justifiably saw him lose
his place briefly to Kurt Zouma, although that seemed to be due to
the fatigue of being ever-present for both club and country more
than anything worrying. After his return, he became an important
part of Chelsea's defensive march to the title, repeatedly putting
his body on the line for the cause. Zouma, for his part, did not
put a foot wrong whether deployed in defence or midfield, and he
promises a bright future.
There have been some eye-catching full-backs this season, with
Southampton duo Ryan Bertrand and Nathaniel Clyne earning deserved
plaudits along with West Ham's Aaron Cresswell. In Cesar
Azpilicueta and Branislav Ivanovic, though, Chelsea have a pair
that were at least the match of any in the Premier League. Yet they
could not be more different. Where Ivanovic is built like a rugby
player and often acts like a one-man wrecking ball up and down his
flank, Azpilicueta is more measured, sizing up his opponent and
picking the right moment to swoop. Their pre-eminence has been such
that one of last summer's big signings, Filipe Luis, has barely had
a look in.
Much like one of his predecessors in Chelsea's midfield, Nemanja
Matic has redrawn the paradigm for his position. He might not yet
have a role named after him in the same manner as Claude Makelele
did, but Matic has shown the value of a rangy, dynamic ball-winner
who is also an excellent footballer. Suddenly, every manager wants
a Matic. In the early part of the season, Cesc Fabregas dovetailed
with Matic beautifully, the brain and the brawn combining to
devastating effect as teams were both dominated and dazzled.
Although opposition sides became wise to it as the campaign wore
on, Ramires' return from injury helped to add more ballast and
energy to that department, even if some creativity was lost as a
result.
Fabregas thus saw himself pushed further forward, displacing the
tiring Oscar, who for the third season running was unable to follow
up an excellent autumn with an equally effective winter and spring.
Even so, there was still that sumptuous back-heel to set up Eden
Hazard's winner against Manchester United as well as an impressive
attacking display at Arsenal before Oscar's afternoon was curtailed
after being leveled by David Ospina.
It was a tightknit group of Chelsea regulars that returned the
Premier League trophy to West London.
And as for Hazard, what more can be said about this magical
player? He just got better with each passing game, and his
progression shows no sign of stopping. Deceptively strong, with
mesmerising feet coupled with the acceleration of a Formula 1 car,
he managed to shine brightest in a team full of standout players.
He was the difference when it mattered on multiple occasions vs.
Manchester City, Arsenal, Man United, Tottenham and Liverpool --
all were on the wrong end of his genius. Even when he was kicked,
he subsequently scored from the penalty spot or one of his
teammates netted from the resulting free kick.
None of the tricks and flicks would have come to anything if the
team did not have a player like Willian on the opposite flank to
work himself into the ground, though. Often understandably
criticised for not producing enough defining moments in the final
third, he made up for it through his positional diligence and team
ethic. Juan Cuadrado was acquired in January to add competition for
Willian's place but was largely an onlooker as the Brazilian raised
his game.
Despite the seasoned campaigners and the graceful aesthetes, a
new cult hero emerged this season in the shape of Diego Costa. This
raging bull of a striker was an instant hit among the supporters as
much for his confrontational attitude as his immediate goal return.
Sir Alex Ferguson once said that former Blues captain Dennis Wise
could start a fight in an empty house, and Costa is cut from the
very same cloth. It's no wonder, then, that both are held so high
in the fans' affections. Uncompromising and provocative, yet
deceptively skillful and unselfish, the 32 million signing was what
Chelsea had so desperately lacked, and his ruthlessness in all
areas was crucial to the team becoming champions.
When fit, Loic Remy showed his predatory instincts, and his
winning goals against Hull and Stoke in consecutive games as the
season entered the final straight were as important as any that
preceded them. Didier Drogba's force had clearly faded, but there
was still time for some reminders of the old magic, notably against
Man United, Tottenham and Leicester.
Some others played their part, too, such as John Obi Mikel and
the now-departed Andre Schurrle, but really it was a tightknit band
of regulars that saw the job through. It was a job extremely well
done.
Terry, Fabregas & Costa all in as Chelsea dominate Team of
the SeasonDavid Hirshey picked his Premier League Team of the
Season, but the rest of the ESPN FC panel did not agree.Chelsea
landed the Premier League title but would they be a match for ESPN
FC's team of the season? Gab Marcotti, Paul Mariner and Steve Nicol
pick the season's best XI.
Right backAs ever, it didn't take long for discord to break out
and we have a tense tussle on our hands at right back. In the blue
corner,Branislav Ivanovic, Chelsea's Mr. Reliable. In the red (and
white) corner, Nathaniel Clyne, who has had a formidable campaign
on the south coast. Messrs Nicol and Mariner like the cut of the
Serbian's jib and highlight his four goals in the campaign while
Marcotti says Clyne has upped his defensive game this campaign. For
his goals, graft and part in securing the title, we'll go for Big
Ivan.
Centre backHe's finally got his hands on the Premier League
trophy, having last lifted it in 2010, andJohn Terryis another
unanimous choice from our panellists. Chelsea's captain has been
the proverbial rock for Jose Mourinho this season, returning the
Blues to their stingy best and getting back on the goal trail, to
boot. Mariner said: "Everyone thought he was finished at this
level. Wrong. What a leader of men." And Marcotti adds: "Arguably
his best ever season. Form didn't dip even as the team showed signs
of fatigue in the second half of the campaign."
Left backA third Blue in our defensive four arrives at left back
in the shape ofCesar Azpilicueta; an ever so slightly silkier
version of Ivanovic at right back but no less industrious. The
Spaniard edges out Aaron Cresswell, who was put forward by Marcotti
after a fine first season in the top flight at West Ham. Nicol, a
wily defender in his time, calls Azpilicueta "old-fashioned," while
Mariner says: "He is never exposed, possesses pace, joins in
attacks and is a superb one versus one defender."
Centre midfieldNemanja Matichas struck a chord with our
panellists this season. Marcotti has been especially smitten
throughout the whole campaign. It's not a stretch to claim that
when fit, he's the first name on Jose Mourinho's team sheet, such
is his effectiveness in disrupting opposition attacks. He also
offers a deft touch in his own offensive operations. Marcotti calls
him the "human shield," while Mariner says he is "the blueprint for
the holding midfielder," and Nicol adds Matic is "positionally
outstanding."
Centre midfieldThe blue tinge in our Team of the Season grows
ever thicker with the inclusion ofCesc Fabregasalongside Matic.
Marcotti offered up the name of "Mr. Intensity" Morgan
Schneiderlin, who enjoyed a supreme season with Southampton but he
did also select Fabregas alongside Mariner. His snapshot of the
Spaniard's season reads: "Assist leader, strength of character, the
passing king," while Marcotti said: "A record number of assists
playing in a new team and in a new role. Lived up to the billing
with minimum fuss (well, until the second to last game of the
season and that stupid red card)."
Right midfieldOn the right-hand side, the PFA Player of the
YearEden Hazard. This season he has underlined his burgeoning
reputation as one of the game's sublime talents and he is the
benchmark of flair in a Chelsea side that can leave itself open to
criticism for a workmanlike obsession. Marcotti was impressed by
his dedication to the ethic that Mourinho demands in a defensive
sense while adding, ominously, that he "Can only get better."
Mariner lauds his ability to "break the lines" and Nicol says his
strength on the ball scares defenders to death.
StrikerThe final slot in our Team of the Season goes toDiego
Costa. Marcotti bangs the Kane drum, talking up his 30 goals across
all competitions but stops cruelly short of calling him the future
of English football. Mariner and Nicol, though, have shunned the
Spurs' hope in favour of an altogether more abrasive character. The
former says that no one wants to play against Costa and Nicol says:
"He scores goals and upsets people in equal measure." A tally of 20
in his first Premier League season is some achievement.
David Hirshey's Best Premier League XI for the 2014-15 seasonI
could have made this so easy; just copy Chelsea's roster and call
it my Premier League Best XI for 2014-15. Ok, I might have knocked
out a couple of the lesser players like Ruben Loftus-Cheek and that
guy in a mask whose best pass of 2015 earned him a one-game
suspension, but the real reason I decided not to was that I didn't
want to ape the Professional Football Association -- they named
practically every member of the title-winning squad, except for
Jose Mourinho's personal meditation swami.
So you'll only find four Blues on this list, the most I could
bring myself to include and still retain a shred of self-respect.
Deal with it.
CB: John Terry, ChelseaWhat, you thought I'd be so blinded by my
loathing of the man as to leave him off the team?
While I was sorely tempted, not even I could stoop that low
(possibly due to a bad back), but also because this is not a list
of candidates for the Premier League's Humanitarian of the Year
award. Not to mention that Brendan Rodgers already locked that one
up anyway for his refusal to bench Steven Gerrard in the face of
the sharpest decline of an English icon since George Michael.
It is not for me to extoll Terry's qualities as a captain,
leader, warrior, winner and all-round defensive colossus. Nor is it
for me to mention that against all karmic odds, he has defied
injury, public venomand Rafael Benitezto carry Chelsea to an
astonishing 16th trophy since he broke into the senior team as a
teenager.
Let others talk about his positional intelligence, aerial
dominance, ability to pass his way out of tight spots and his utter
refusal to pay any notice to his personal odometer. No, I have only
one word to say about John Terry and it has taken me decades to
utter it: Respect.
LB: Cesar "Dave" Azpilicueta, ChelseaWhen Jose Mourinho famously
declared thatChelsea could win the league with a team of 11
Azpilicuetas, he was engaging in an uncharacteristic bit of
hyperbole; everyone knows Chelsea need only 10 men behind the ball
to get the job done.
But it's a measure of how highly Mourinho regards the
25-year-old Spaniard that his is the first name on the team sheet
when you consider that Chelsea boasts the PFA Player of the Year in
Eden Hazard and the mother of all captains in John Terry. Yet for
all the gaudy skill and gritty leadership that those two bring to
the side, neither has been as ferociously consistent as the quiet,
understated defender his colleagues affectionately refer to as
"Dave."
Chelsea would have been up a Portuguese creek without Azpi's
lockdown discipline. A throwback to old-school, no-frills
full-backs who were content to hold their position for 90 minutes,
he provided the critical defensive balance that allowed Branislav
Ivanovic to maraud forward on the right flank and score some big
goals. In 29 league appearances this season, Azpilicueta didn't
commit a single error that led to an opponent's scoring chance and
Chelsea recorded 16 clean sheets with him in the lineup.
And the larger the game, the bigger the 5-foot-10 defender
plays. In Chelsea's last serious test before they clinched the
title, a 0-0 stalemate with Arsenal that was perhaps the crowning
moment of glory for the Blues' defense, Azpilicueta completely
nullified the right side of the Gunners' attack, making 10 tackles,
or seven more than anyone else on the field.
It's no wonder that Chelsea's $26 million transfer from Atletico
Madrid, the highly rated Brazilian left-back Filipe Luis, could
barely get into the team; he started only nine league games and was
approached about a summer move back to his former club. (He said
no.) This would mark the second world-class defender whom
Azpilicueta has seen off since he arrived at Stamford Bridge. Oh
Cashley, we can barely remember you.
CM: Nemanja Matic, ChelseaEvery title-winning side needs one.
The physically imposing midfielder who sits in front of his back
four and dares opposing attackers to try to breach the gates. The
master of retaining position, igniting the counterattack and
committing the professional foul. Someone who can translate when
Branislav Ivanovic is screaming at the referee.
It's rare to find a player who ticks off all the boxes, but
Chelsea did. Then they let him get away. Luckily for the Blues,
they recognized the second time around exactly what they had in
Nemanja Matic, the Premier League's state-of-the-art holding
midfielder -- and if they had topay an additional $31 million to
get him back? Well, it helps that Roman Abramovich has a black
American Express card.
Upon his return to Stamford Bridge, Matic made his muscular
presence known, earning man of the match in his one of his first
starts, against Manchester City in September. It's not even a
stretch to say that either he or Alexis Sanchez was the best player
in England during the first half of the season, prowling his domain
in front of Terry and Cahill like a beast who gave no quarter and
expected none in return. At the same time, his Thou-Shalt-Not-Pass
mentality gave Cesc Fabregas the freedom to roam forward and use
his telescopic vision to pick out Diego Costa with the
defense-shredding pass.
Though his high-impact performances may have fallen off at the
sharp end of the season, they were still formidable enough to
ensure Chelsea's coronation. More so than John Terry or even Eden
Hazard, the Blues would not have won the league without Matic. I
just hope that in some part of his brain, Arsene Wenger has been
paying attention.
LM: Eden Hazard, ChelseaI admit to having a bit of a man-crush
on Hazard. I first glimpsed his wondrous skills in 2009 when he was
a fresh-faced 18-year-old playing for Lille in a cup final against
Lyon. Suddenly from inside his own half, he beat his man, split two
defenders with a lightning dribble and then lashed a 20-yard
screamer into the far corner.
It was rare to see a player who embodied so many disparate
gifts: explosive propulsion with the ball at his feet, exquisite
balance and upper body strength to ride the crudest of tackles, and
an audacious ability to humiliate defenders with nutmegs and
back-heels at high speed. Because he was playing in France, I knew
it was only a matter of time until I saw him in an Arsenal
shirt.
You can imagine my horror when $50 million later, he turned up
at Stamford Bridge in 2012 thanks in part to the efforts of former
Blues star Joe Cole who, while on loan at Lille, told Hazard that
Chelsea was the right club for him to realize his ambitions.Why, in
the name ofjogo bonito, would one of the most exciting attackers in
the world go to a club renowned for turgid 1-0 score lines? But
credit to the Chelsea brain trust; they may be the ultimate soccer
pragmatists who build their teams from the back, but they certainly
aren't stupid. Roman Abramovich was demanding something resembling
offensive fluidity for his billions and nobody was going to shackle
this 24-year-old Belgian.
Despite being fouled almost twice as much as any player in the
league, he also found time to contribute 14 goals and seven assists
in 32 starts last season, numbers that he matched (14 and eight)
this campaign.
Moreover, he has been at his incandescent best when Chelsea's
other two attacking stars, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas, faded
dramatically as the season wore on. Combined with Chelsea's
penchant for close matches, Hazard's seven goals in games that at
the time were either tied or had them protecting a one-goal lead
were almost certainly the reason that the Blues were rarely
threatened on their procession to the EPL title.Damn you, Joe
Cole.
Manager: Jose Mourinho, ChelseaI don't want to talk about
it.
Strongly considered:Ronald Koeman (Southampton)Viable candidates
in their own mind:Alan Pardiola (Newcastle, then Crystal Palace),
Tim "I invented Harry Kane" Sherwood (Aston Villa)
Hazard the hero as Chelsea clinch the Premier League titleLONDON
-- Three points on Chelsea's Premier League-clinching 1-0 win vs.
Crystal Palace.
1. Hazard inspires Chelsea's title clinchIt ended as it had gone
on for so long: in a well-stage-managed procession. Eden Hazard
headed home to finally confirm what has been long known: Chelsea
are the 2014-15 Premier League champions. In that, Sunday's 1-0 win
over Crystal Palace was much like the title race itself. Jose
Mourinho's side got a sufficiently early lead, and never looked
like letting it slip. There was never any tension about it.
Much like the title race, too, Hazard was the decisive player,
and it was fitting that he followed his crowning as PFA player of
the year with the moment that crowned Chelsea as champions.
It came just before half-time when, just as in the pace-setting
2-0 win over Arsenal back in October, it was the Belgian who won a
penalty after James McArthur and Adrian Mariappa had put out their
legs in the box. As in the decisive 1-0 win over Manchester United
just two weeks ago, it was Hazard that also finished.
Somewhat unlike the title race and his general form, though, it
did involve a slip. Hazard actually had his penalty saved by Julian
Speroni, but reacted quickest to tidily head the ball in.
It meant Chelsea were yet again in control and meant the team
remain on course for a return of 92 points, which would be the
second highest in Premier League history, after only Mourinho's
first title-winning team of 2004-05.
There are many parallels with that victory, from the manner a
young team used a League Cup first trophy win to bound them
together as a collective, propelling them through to claim the
title.
Chelsea were impressively cohesive in structure in the second
half, easily keeping Palace at bay, although Thibaut Courtois did
have to make his last telling contribution to this title win with a
fine block from Wilfried Zaha. For all the talk of underwhelming
champions in a poor season, too, Chelsea have now claimed 19 points
from their last 21. It's quite a way to lock it down. Hazard again
turned the key, the game, and the race.
2. Mourinho knows how to winPerhaps the most fitting aspect of
Chelsea's triumph was that there was no real final flourish to
claim the win as Mourinho again reverted to what he knew. Never was
that more evident than at half-time, when Juan Cuadrado was hauled
off for John Obi Mikel.
Erratic creativity was replaced by sideways predictability after
the manager had watched Cuadrado offer absolutely nothing in the
first half and repeatedly put Chelsea at risk, again raising some
minor questions about the balance of their squad and what they're
going to do in the summer transfer market. That is not to write off
the Colombian, who deserves understanding and patience for the way
he is adjusting to both a new league and Mourinho's very specific
defensive demands from attackers. It was all too obvious that
Cuadrado was only a late inclusion for Ramires, who was taken ill
with kidney stones.
The former Fiorentina winger evidently hasn't synced up with the
rest of the forwards, as one breakdown in a move with Willian
displayed, and isn't yet up to speed with the tactical
instructions. Thus, it was no surprise that the Colombian was taken
off and perhaps less of a surprising that, with a win of
consequence in the balance, Mourinho locked it down further as the
match ended with a central midfield trio of Kurt Zouma, Mikel and
Matic, plus Filipe Luis coming on for Eden Hazard.
Mourinho won it as he knows best: by making sure not to lose
it.
3. Palace could affect the race for fourthThere wasn't much
carnival-like joy to Chelsea's final win but a large part of that
is because, in Mourinho's own words from last season, Crystal
Palace were not prepared to be the "clowns in the circus". They
remained tight early on, only succumbing to a penalty, and were
adventurous in attack late. It says much that they forced Mourinho
into such a defensive set-up late on, and further reflects on the
effect of Alan Pardew since he took over as manager.
Also, if Palace were not to prevent a crowning here, they could
yet become king-makers in another way. The race for fourth has
suddenly got a bit tense and Pardew's side meet both Manchester
United and Liverpool in the next two weeks. On the evidence of this
battling performance and just how much they pushed the best side in
the league, they could yet swing that race even more.
The moments that defined Chelsea's Premier League-winning
campaignWith 25 wins and only two defeats in the 35 games that it
took for Chelsea to be crowned Premier League champions, it is
clear that consistency has provided the fundamental base for the
team's success. Yet despite their machine-like quality to churn out
result after result, there are a few particular matches that stand
out as either pivotal to the eventual outcome or symbolic of the
Blues' return to the top of the English game this season.
Aug. 18, 2014 | Burnley 1-3 ChelseaThe season's first fixture
might have appeared to be an open goal for the Blues against a
freshly promoted club, but these matches are rarely straightforward
given the initial positivity that perennially surrounds the new
kids on the block. And thus it proved in the early stages with
Scott Arfield stunning Jose Mourinho's men with the opening goal
less than 15 minutes into the match. Alas for the home fans and
neutrals hoping for an upset, that merely stung Chelsea into action
and gave the rest of the country a glimpse of what to expect over
the next few months.
Within three minutes, new 32 million signing Diego Costa had
rattled home the equaliser -- the first of 19 league goals to date
-- and a footballing masterclass ensued. The lead was established
four minutes later by Andre Schurrle via a sumptuous move involving
the pass of the season from another new acquisition, Cesc Fabregas,
and was extended before halftime by Branislav Ivanovic. The
combination of silky, penetrative football and ruthlessness from
set pieces was an early warning to the rest of the division as to
what they could expect to see from the Londoners.
Aug. 30, 2014 | Everton 3-6 ChelseaChelsea's swashbuckling start
to the campaign continued with this nine-goal thriller at Goodison
Park, a ground where they have enjoyed mixed fortunes over the
years. What looked like being the first real test of the season
appeared to be anything but after the visitors raced into a 2-0
lead through Costa and Ivanovic with just three minutes on the
clock, the result of a two fantastic passing moves that ripped
through the Toffees.
Chelsea's fluid play was on full display at Everton in August,
where the Premier League got its first look at Diego Costa's fiery
personality. Everton responded admirably by pulling one back
through Kevin Mirallas and they continued to press but they were
never able to draw level thanks to Chelsea's constant ability to
break through at the other end, something characterised by a spell
of 10 second-half minutes in which five goals flew in.
With Nemanja Matic and Ramires also getting on the scoresheet,
it showed that there was a threat from all over the pitch. There
was even the first evidence of Costa's snarling menace with his
running battle with Seamus Coleman being a feature of the game. At
the other end, a quite stupendous save from a Mirallas volley that
would have made the score 5-5 served notice of Thibaut Courtois'
exceptional ability that would be showcased many more times over
the course of the season.
Dec. 22, 2014 | Stoke City 0-2 ChelseaIf the previous two
examples on this list highlighted their sheer footballing ability,
this match proved that Chelsea could front up physically when
required. One of English football's modern day cliches is to use a
hypothetical cold Tuesday night at Stoke City as a barometer to
gauge a player or a team's resolve and durability. This match might
have actually taken place on Monday evening but the plummeting
winter temperatures coupled with the raucous Britannia Stadium and
the Potters' rugged approach ensured that Chelsea's credentials
were sure to be tested. They passed with flying colours.
The Blues were right at it from the start, taking the lead
inside two minutes via the indomitable John Terry, all rolled-up
sleeves and English grit. The following 88 minutes saw a gruelling
encounter with fierce tackling and aerial duels everywhere you
looked but interspersed among it was a performance from Eden Hazard
that combined artistry with a refusal to be cowed.
The recipient of some horrendous treatment at the hands of Phil
Bardsley, the uncomplaining Belgian just kept dusting himself off
and going again. His ability to shrug off the knocks and respond by
skillfully destroying his tormentor was one of the traits he would
exhibit throughout the season and one of the many reasons he is so
loved by Chelsea supporters. Fabregas then wrapped up the points
late in the second half to cap an impressive collective
display.
Jan. 1, 2015 | Tottenham 5-3 ChelseaThe match at White Hart Lane
was undeniably the turning point of the season. The result
signalled the end of the free-flowing attacking football and a
switch to a more pragmatic, conservative method. And yet but for
the bounce of the ball here and there, the result could have been
very different.
Costa opened the scoring and Chelsea dominated the opening half
hour. Had Oscar's shooting radar been calibrated properly then they
could quite feasibly have been three goals up by the time Harry
Kane equalised. Even after Tottenham had gone 5-2 in front, Chelsea
created enough good chances to take something from the game, but
the concession of so many goals clearly alarmed Mourinho and a new,
defensively solid approach was adopted.
Although Swansea were put to the sword on their own patch two
weeks later in a display of champagne football, it would be the
only time during the rest of the campaign that the Blues would play
with their early season flourish. Substance would now be preferred
over style.
March 22, 2015 | Hull City 2-3 ChelseaA five-goal thriller might
not suggest too much defensive solidity, although the manner of
victory was in keeping with Chelsea's habit of making it hard for
themselves in the second half of the season. A wonderful solo goal
from Hazard was matched by Costa to put them into what should have
been an unassailable 2-0 lead after just nine minutes.
Instead, what followed was a collective meltdown across the back
line (John Terry excepted) that saw errors from Ivanovic and
Courtois brutally punished. With Chelsea on the ropes, it could
have been much worse for the visitors had Courtois not redeemed
himself with a remarkable triple save in the second half to keep
the scores level.Loic Remy spared Chelsea's blushes at Hull after
his side were wasteful with their early lead.
Costa's troubled hamstring then forced his substitution,
although that just showcased what Chelsea now had that they had
missed last season: a decent reserve striker. Just seconds after
coming on, Loic Remy scored the winner with his very first touch.
Admittedly, it was not the most sweetly struck shot of the season
but it was good enough and his ability to be in the right place at
the right time was replicated the following week when his goal
against Stoke once again made the difference between one point and
three.
April 26, 2015 | Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea"Boring, boring
Chelsea!"
Never has an opposition taunt caused such mirth among Chelsea
fans and so rarely has one been so widely derided by neutrals and
pundits alike. The defensive clinic that the Blues put on at the
Emirates Stadium was almost a deliberate act to troll Arsene Wenger
and the Arsenal faithful, showing them one of the key ingredients
needed to win the league, an ingredient that their team has lacked
for over a decade.
Despite the debates that were sparked by the errant chant, it
should be remembered that Ramires should have given Chelsea a
first-half lead and had referee Michael Oliver been a little
sharper then the Blues would have been awarded at least one penalty
with Arsenal reduced to 10 men. It might not have been quite so
boring then.
For the second week in a row, having beaten Manchester United
eight days earlier, Chelsea had eliminated a potential threat to
their ambitions and poured cold water on those hoping for a
nail-biting climax to the title race. Six more points might still
have been required to guarantee top spot but in actuality it was
when the final whistle blew in North London that Chelsea were
really crowned champions.
Jose Mourinho's Chelsea changes and choices make title win
satisfyingEden Hazard's header following a saved penalty was enough
to secure Chelsea's fourth Premier League title.
It was around this time two years ago that Chelsea and Jose
Mourinho began plotting his return to Stamford Bridge. It was a
telegraphed return. His Real Madrid experience was coming to an end
amid acrimony and accusations, and the fact that he had three years
left on his deal at the Bernabeu wasn't worth, for either side, the
paper it was written on. Meanwhile, Chelsea's own manager, Rafa
Benitez, was due to leave Stamford Bridge in a few weeks.
From the earliest meetings between Chelsea and Mourinho, two
things were clear: 1. Nearly six years after his first spell as
manager ended, the club wanted him back. 2. This time, things would
be different.
This was not the club he joined in 2004 on the day of one of the
most memorable misquotes in football. (He never said, "I am
thespecial one," but rather, "I think I am a special one,"
referring to the fact that he was arriving as a European Cup
winner, not some random rent-a-coach or, as he put it, "one of the
bottle.")
Since his departure, Chelsea had played in two Champions League
finals, winning one in 2012 and having lost the other, four years
earlier, on penalty kicks. They had won a Premier League crown in
2009-10 by scoring a record number of goals. They had also won a
Europa League in 2013 and three FA Cups (2009, 2010 and 2012). They
weren't a club establishing themselves in the big time. They were
-- thanks also to Mourinho's contribution a decade earlier -- the
big time.
Chelsea no longer had a green owner who stayed out of the way
and simply cut cheques to friendly agents who did the club's
bidding. Roman Abramovich was older and more savvy and had a whole
structure in place, from his trusted adviser Marina Granovskaya to
Michael Emenalo, the club's director of football. Mourinho wasn't
there to build a club from near-scratch. He was there to fit into a
framework, and that meant, on certain issues, deferring to
others.
And that, perhaps, is what makes this Premier League title
different from his successes elsewhere, particularly at Inter and
Real Madrid.
Jose Mourinho's latest league title win was the eighth of his
managerial career and his third with Chelsea.It arrived with a big
dose of humility, which is not a word often associated with
Mourinho. Whatever the outside world thought, the club
intelligentsia did not view him as a messiah. They knew his
strengths and weaknesses; they had studied his character inside and
out. The Portuguese was brought back for what he could contribute,
not to cut a path to the promised land.
To his credit, Mourinho embraced the role and he did it with
minimum controversy, even when he did not get his way. Juan Mata
and David Luiz stuck around longer than anticipated -- and longer
than they would have had Mourinho been in full control.
Meanwhile, guys like Kevin De Bruyne, Mohamed Salah and Andre
Schurrle were shown the door, but with minimum fuss, partly because
of the sizable return in the transfer market, but partly because
neither Mourinho nor Emenalo sniped at each other.
Would the same have happened during his time in Milan or Madrid?
Probably not. Or, indeed, during his first tenure at Stamford
Bridge, during which the tension was palpable and often boiled over
after Frank Arnesen was brought in as sporting director in
2005.
Maybe one thing follows from another. When you're not fighting
internal battles, feuding with the media or worrying about
transfers, you can devote yourself entirely to the players and the
training pitch. And that's where we've seen a truly different
Mourinho this season.
He has played a key role in the growth of certain players in a
way that simply did not happen in Milan or Madrid. Eden Hazard will
likely sweep the Player of the Year awards this season and, at 24,
has risen to that elite level of players a notch below the two
ubiquitous outliers, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
It wasn't painless -- Mourinho criticized the Belgian last
season -- but the upshot is that he's gone to another level. Cesar
Azpilicueta, an attacking right-back, has become one of the best
one-on-one defensive left-backs around.Mourinho also had the
foresight to turn Cesc Fabregas from a talented jack-of-all-trades
at Barcelona into the lead playmaker, just as he had been at
Arsenal, and he has already notched 17 assists, which is four more
than he managed in any year at the Camp Nou, when he had the luxury
of passing the ball to a certain Messi.
Then there are the veterans. John Terry, at 34, has enjoyed
perhaps his finest season at Stamford Bridge. Branislav Ivanovic,
in his eighth season, has thrived as a two-way threat down the
right. Petr Cech accepted being second-choice and, when called
upon, punched his weight. These are players who had already won
everything in sight. And while, after the fact, it may seem a given
that Mourinho got them on side, history shows it's not something to
take for granted.
ESPN FC's Craig Burley says Jose Mourinho is the best manager in
the Premier League. Perhaps the biggest and most obvious change was
in his scheme. The preferred 4-2-3-1 with two high-energy ball
winners shielding the back four was abandoned in favor of a scheme
with a holding midfielder (Nemanja Matic) and a deep-lying
playmaker (Fabregas).The "double pivot" had been a hallmark at the
Bernabeu (with Sami Khedira and Xabi Alonso), at Inter (Thiago
Motta and Esteban Cambiasso), during his first stint at Chelsea
(Claude Makelele and Michael Essien) and even last season.
Again, it's easy after the fact to suggest that it was an
obvious change. When you have a monster like Matic, you can get
away with a Fabregas next to him -- anyone can see that. But that
was far from apparent in the summer.Mourinho made a conscious
choice to build the playmaking duties around Fabregas and to do it
in a deeper role -- so much so that he personally spoke to him
several times before his signing, a decision which Fabregas' people
say was crucial in getting him on board.
A corollary of that choice was the use of Diego Costa. At
Atletico Madrid, the striker had been primarily a devastating force
on the counter and on set pieces, playing for a team often happy to
concede possession against bigger opponents. Mourinho helped turn
him into a better-rounded front man (something his critics who saw
him struggle for Spain at the World Cup suggested was a waste of
time), capable of functioning and contributing to a
press-and-possession side like the one he built this year.
What's more, it worked. Folks may be beating Chelsea with the
"boring" stick these days, but the first part of the season, right
up until that 5-0 hammering of Swansea in January, tell a different
story. Until that stage, Chelsea had won 24 of 31 games in all
competitions, losing just twice. They were averaging 2.31 goals per
Premier League game and outplaying virtually everyone.
You know what happened next. There was a steep decline, Chelsea
were eliminated from the FA Cup and Champions League and the
perception is that they limped across the finish line.
To my eyes, the drop was physical, perhaps a function of
Mourinho's refusal to rotate or use more of his squad earlier in
the season, perhaps a result of a conditioning program that did not
quite go to plan. Whatever the case, by almost any metric, Chelsea
did not play as well, which is why he resorted to bus parking
against Manchester United and Arsenal in recent weeks.
But to call the 2014-15 version of Chelsea "boring" -- in
addition to being juvenile -- is simply untrue. This was a side
that, relative to past Mourinho teams and the talent at his
disposal, showed more attacking oomph, more creativity and, yes,
more entertainment.
When he returned in 2013, Mourinho accepted that his way of
working and relating to club officials had to change, and it did. A
year later, he ditched the old blueprint in terms of style of play
and tactical approach as well.It wasn't always painless, and there
were plenty of bumps along the way, especially in the past few
months. He made mistakes and was likely helped by the inconsistency
of other title contenders. But he embraced the change and showed
the savvy to make it work in ways which, for him, were new and
untested. And he was rewarded with his third Premier League title
and third League Cup.
Where does it rank relative to winning trebles with Porto and
Inter, the 100-point season at Real and the two earlier titles at
Chelsea? Numbers will say those were more impressive. But in some
ways, this may have been the most courageous and most
satisfying.
Chelsea geared up to dominate in England for years to come
Chelsea finally secured the Premier League title in front of
their home fans with a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace and three
games to spare.
Monday is a public holiday in the UK, which will be a boost to
the many Chelsea supporters who will have woken up with a hangover
after celebrating the Premier League title, secured with a
functional 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace.
That the Blues are champions with three games to spare serves to
underline the dominance of Jose Mourinho's team in the top flight
this season, yet despite this the manner of Eden Hazard's winner
against the Eagles encapsulated the campaign perfectly.
Hazard, the PFA Player of the Year, has been terrorising
opposition defences week-in, week-out since August. Having
bamboozled the Palace back line, the Belgium international drew a
foul from James McArthur in the penalty area and as he stepped up
to take the resultant spot kick the expectant home crowd held its
breath. This was it -- the moment they had been waiting for.
What could go wrong? Hazard never misses from 12 yards in
Premier League matches.A bit like that New Year's Day aberration
when Tottenham Hotspur blitzed Chelsea 5-3 at White Hart Lane, a
defeat that left the Blues heading the table on alphabetical order
from Manchester City, there was a moment of doubt when Palace
keeper Julian Speroni smartly saved Hazard's penalty.
Were dreams about to be shattered? Would it all go horribly
wrong from here? Chelsea lose and lose and lose and lose and
Arsenal win and win and win and win and win. No! Fortunately!
At the start of the year, Mourinho's men regrouped and resurged
while City's challenge faltered then fell away. On Sunday, Hazard
reacted swiftly and headed Speroni's parried save into the net --
and from that point on there was only going to be one winner.
Chelsea started the season as favourites for the title and have
headed the table, albeit tenuously at one stage, since the end of
August. The 13-point margin that separates the Blues from Man City
in second place means that before the season ends Manchester
United's long-standing record -- dating back to 1993-94 -- when the
Red Devils topped the table for 262 days will be broken.
Superiority comes in many guises when it comes to football, but
that is one statistic that tells a definitive story.
"Boring, boring Chelsea," was the ironic chant from home
supporters at the Bridge and in the many bars in and around the
ground after the game. The reality is, the Blues have been anything
but boring as far as their fans are concerned -- and, if the truth
be told, those who have chided Mourinho's style of play know that
behind their barbed comments lies nothing but a thin green veneer
of jealousy.
What is interesting is the real possibility that the haters and
the envious could be in for a torrid few years as the usual
suspects among the regular contenders for the Premier League title
play catch up.
Yes, 2014-15 saw masterful Mourinho live up to his "Special One"
sobriquet by melding key signings Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa
with his existing squad and getting the best once more from
captain, leader, legend John Terry. The Portuguese certainly has
the players to repeat the success next season -- but there's more
to it now.
Not only is Chelsea's first team excelling, but the football
club are enjoying unparalleled success at every level with the
under-19 side winning the UEFA Youth League and the under-18s
triumphing in the FA Youth Cup. Whether any of these younger
players, or the many starlets out on loan with other clubs, will
make the grade at Stamford Bridge is consistently open to question
-- but the point is that the investment Blues owner Roman
Abramovich has made in developing the Academy is paying dividends
that will have a tangible benefit in more ways than one.
Several youngsters might break through into the first team,
several may be sold on -- and these two points highlight the real
reason Chelsea's rivals have reason to be fearful for the future.
Abramovich's backroom executive team headed by Marina Granovskaia
have a formidable understanding of the machinations of UEFA's
financial fair play regulations. And Chelsea's transfer dealings
and contractual negotiations have been peerless for the past 18
months.
The high-profile comings and goings in the Stamford Bridge
dressing room have been an even mix of phenomenal sale fees: David
Luiz (50 million), Juan Mata (37 million), Romelu Lukaku (28
million). And what look like astute buys: Diego Costa (32 million),
Cesc Fabregas (26 million). While Mourinho has fettled his squad,
and will continue to do so -- elsewhere, there seems to be less
thought and planning.
Manchester United squandered almost 60 million on midfield
misfit Angel Di Maria and signed Colombian striker Radamel Falcao,
who has not been a success. What will Red Devils manager Louis van
Gaal be doing this summer? Rebuilding again? That takes time.
Manchester City and Arsenal have a different type of problem to
consider. While Van Gaal appears to have the strength and depth of
character to get United to perform once he has the right players,
Manuel Pellegrini at City and Arsenal's Arsene Wenger have the look
of yesterday's men, ill-equipped psychologically to take on
Mourinho. Managerial changes look on the cards at the Etihad, and
maybe in the near future the Emirates and that does not guarantee
immediate success.
Liverpool's historical pedigree of top-flight glory is becoming
sepia-tinged with every passing year, and with Brendan Rodgers at
the helm there is little to suggest the Anfield club are capable of
mounting a challenge that will go the distance any time soon.
If Chelsea are set for a period of prolonged Premier League
dominance they should be applauded for it. In the context of the
modern game, the Stamford Bridge house is very much in order and
deficiencies elsewhere are, well, just that -- deficiencies. No
doubt they will be addressed, but for now the Blues are in control
of their destiny. That's not boring, that's life.
The tactical keys to Chelsea's Premier League-winning
campaign
Jose Mourinho lauded his Chelsea players for the determination,
quality and consistency that secured the Blues' fourth Premier
League title, following a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace.
In the age of tactical flexibility and squad rotation, Chelsea's
title has been built on old-fashioned principles. Jose Mourinho has
stuck to the same 4-2-3-1 framework throughout the campaign and has
used the same players: three are ever-presents in the Premier
League, 10 have started at least 26 games and an 11th, Diego Costa,
would surely have done likewise but for injuries and
suspension.
Chelsea's triumph has been based on key performers playing key
roles and, tactically, six men have been particularly
important.
Costa starts at speedMourinho's increasingly regular complaint
last season was that he had no striker. He set about remedying that
by signing Diego Costa and, while the Spain international has only
struck twice since the middle of January as his appearances have
become rarities due to injury and suspension, he set the tone for
the campaign with a superb start. Costa scored seven goals in his
first four games, including two in the 6-3 win at Everton and a
hat-trick in a 4-2 defeat of Swansea.
His shot map from those four games shows that the former
Atletico Madrid forward was the penalty-box poacher Chelsea had
lacked. Six of those seven goals came from 13 yards out or less and
his long-range strike was from only 15. Costa rarely shoots from
outside the box, but began in deadly fashion inside it.
Despite the recent suggestions Chelsea are boring, it is worth
remembering they were prolific when Costa was a regular. After 22
league games, they had scored 51 goals, with him responsible for
17. He has only appeared in five of the subsequent 13 games, in
which Chelsea have scored just 18 times.
It is also significant that Mourinho values a good start more
than virtually any other manager. His teams tend to be
front-runners in title races and prefer to have an advantage from
an early stage. After four games of 2014-15, Chelsea were already
five points ahead of Manchester City, six clear of Arsenal and
seven better off than Manchester United.
Fabregas adds inventionIf Mourinho addressed one weakness in his
side by recruiting Costa, he rectified another by bringing in Cesc
Fabregas, his other biggest summer signing, as a supply line. The
two have formed a productive partnership; no other player has set
up six league goals for the same teammate this season while
Fabregas has provided another four for Eden Hazard.Indeed, when
Costa stopped scoring, the playmaker recorded fewer assists,
leading Mourinho to defend him because, he said, he was still
providing the passes. While it is looking less likely Fabregas will
beat his former Arsenal team-mate Thierry Henry's Premier League
record of 20 assists in a season, his total of 17 remains
remarkable.
A map of where he was when he supplied those assists is
instructive: Chelsea lacked creativity in the centre of midfield
last season and Fabregas has showed he can be incisive from deeper
positions. Indeed, he provided one pass -- for Costa and against
Arsenal -- from within his own half.
It is also notable that five of those assists have come from
corners. Chelsea do not overlook the basics and excel at
set-pieces. They have plenty of goalscoring defenders, but Fabregas
is their supply line.
Hazard hits the heightsThe PFA Player of the Year is the
favourite to win the Football Writers' award as well and yet, if
those amount to recognition of the entire season, the Belgian has
peaked at vital periods. Whereas Costa and Fabregas started
superbly, only two of Hazard's goals came before November. Overall,
he has been more potent this season and totals of 14 goals and
eight assists show he can both create and finish.
Hazard is also two players in one, as his touch map for the
whole season shows. He can hug the left touchline, stretching the
game, which is particularly useful because Chelsea have a
left-back, in Cesar Azpilicueta, who offers less width than many of
his counterparts around the league.
Where Hazard is at his most dangerous, however, is coming
infield into the inside-left channel. It was from there, for
instance, that Hazard burst into the box to score his winner
against Manchester United last month. The 24-year-old shoots almost
exclusively from within 30 yards, within the width of the penalty
box and normally on the left half of the pitch.
His combination of close control, ability to beat a man and
shoot on his preferred right foot makes him particularly deadly
from that area and also poses opponents questions regarding which
of four players -- right-back, right-sided centre-back, right
winger or right-sided central midfielder -- picks him up. Too often
they don't have an adequate answer.
Matic the mobile destroyerWhile Costa and Fabregas arrived last
summer, arguably Mourinho's planning for this campaign began in
earnest in January 2014 when he brought Nemanja Matic back to
Stamford Bridge.The Serb has gone on to establish himself as the
foremost defensive midfielder in the Premier League, winning the
most tackles in the division this season. What a diagram of those
tackles shows is that he is a very mobile destroyer, capable of
getting out to the flanks to win the ball back and, in the process,
arguably doing some of Hazard's defensive duties, as well as acting
as a shield for his central defenders.
Mourinho, whose team beat Manchester United when they had the
ball for just 29 percent of the game, has been publicly sceptical
about passing statistics and Matic illustrates why. He enables
Chelsea to win the ball back or to play without it. His positional
discipline is also apparent: while he may roam from touchline to
touchline, he rarely enters the final third. In other words, he is
always in a position to recover.
Terry has been terrificWhen Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge
in 2013, John Terry had finished a season where, due to injuries,
suspension and the selections of Roberto Di Matteo and, in
particular, Rafa Benitez, he had only started 11 league games. It
seemed the captain was in decline and being phased out.
Those notions look wildly wrong now. Terry is an ever present in
the Premier League and, having been Chelsea's third-choice
centre-back, is now widely described as the division's finest.
Mourinho said the 34-year-old's performance in April's 0-0 draw at
Arsenal as his best in either of his spells at the club.
A map of Terry's clearances at the Emirates Stadium illustrates
how busy he was and also shows how Mourinho has made the most of
his assets -- heading, almost flawless positional play and
concentration -- without his greatest weakness, a lack of pace,
being exposed.
Chelsea often defend deep, so there is little room behind Terry
for a speedy striker to accelerate into. He actually patrols a
comparatively small area, with a defensive-minded, right-footed
left-back, Azpilicueta tucked in alongside him and the division's
best defensive midfielder, Matic, directly in front of him as the
left of the duo in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
But Terry, and the defence as a whole, are a major reason why
Chelsea have held their nerve in the run-in and at a time when they
have been less prolific in front of goal. Since the 5-3 defeat at
Tottenham on New Year's Day, which looks a freak result, they have
only conceded twice in a league game once -- a 3-2 win at Hull --
and have only conceded eight times in 15 games overall.
Ivanovic offers energySome Chelsea players can be described as
two players in one -- Hazard is a winger and a goalscoring
inside-forward while Fabregas is a deep-lying playmaker and a goal
creator -- and Branislav Ivanovic is another. The Serb has spent
some of the title run-in as a right-back who rarely crossed the
halfway line, tucking in alongside centre-back Gary Cahill to deny
Manchester United and Arsenal space as each was shut out.
On other occasions, he can be perhaps the most marauding,
buccaneering right-back in the division. Ivanovic's total of four
goals and four assists shows he possesses more attacking threat
than many a midfielder; arguably, indeed, than Chelsea's
right-sided midfielders. Andre Schurrle and Mohamed Salah have
left, Juan Cuadrado rarely plays and Willian is much less creative
than his left-sided counterpart, Hazard.
Then look at Ivanovic's pitch map from the 5-0 win at Swansea in
January. He was on the ball four times in the Swans' 18-yard box
and set up Schurrle's goal. Two years ago, Ivanovic was Chelsea's
first-choice centre-back but now he can pose more of a threat than
many a winger. It shows the range of his talents.
John Terry: Chelsea title success marks start of a new era
John Terry believes Chelsea's first Premier League title win in
five years is just the start of a new era of success at Stamford
Bridge. Chelsea captain Terry will lift the Premier League trophy
for a fourth time on May 24 after Sunday's 1-0 win over Crystal
Palace gave Jose Mourinho's men an unassailable lead with three
games to spare.
Terry has been an integral member of Chelsea's squad for more
than a decade and has played every minute of all 35 of their
Premier League matches this season.
The 34-year-old, who has already signed a new contract until the
end of next season, is optimistic the current squad can replicate
the achievements of Mourinho's first side, which won the 2004-05
Premier League, with many of those players still present for the
2012 Champions League win.
"This is the start of a new group, a new era, and for sure this
current group are going to go on to win many more trophies for the
club," Terry told Chelsea TV. "This is a tough trophy to win. It's
been five years since we won it. It will take a few days to sink
in. It's been a long time. We've been great this season, we fully
deserve it. Absolutely delighted to get it."
Terry has 14 major trophies with Chelsea and he added: "Still
going -- hopefully there's many more to come as well. With the
squad we've got, who knows? "We've showed great strength and
character this year to come and do it."
He reserved special praise for Mourinho, who now has three
Premier League titles after switching to a more pragmatic approach
as the title drew near. "He's been brilliant," Terry said. "He
deserves a lot more respect as well. We've been top since day one.
It's a big feat to do that. We've done it right from the start."He
deserves an awful lot of credit and his team around him. Teams come
here and make it difficult, sit behind the ball. "He finds a way to
break them down. That's why he's the best. We love working with
him."
Didier Drogba is another survivor from the Mourinho side that
won Chelsea's first championship in 50 years a decade ago. The
37-year-old striker returned to Stamford Bridge last summer after
two years away and could leave the Blues again at the end of the
season when his contract expires."I told you when I signed here I
come here because I want to win the league again," Drogba said.
"The last time we won [in 2010] I was here. I was very happy. It's
a special day again."
Frank Lampard, who scored the two goals at Bolton in April 2005
that earned Chelsea the title that year, has spent the season at
Manchester City after his 13-year stay at Stamford Bridge ended
last summer. Lampard wrote on Instagram: "A massive congratulations
to all my old teammates and friends at @chelseafc for winning the
Premier League."A huge achievement and well deserved by everyone at
the club. Also to all those fantastic fans that I had the pleasure
to play for for 13 years. I know how much it means to you all!"
Terry's central defensive partner Gary Cahill won the FA Cup and
European Cup within six months of moving to Stamford Bridge from
Bolton in January 2012. He has had to wait a further three years to
win the Premier League, though, and Terry said: "He's won
everything. He's been brilliant since he arrived. I love playing
alongside him."We've got a great partnership on and off the field
as well. He's got many more years than me here, for sure."
Cahill addressed the criticism Chelsea have received for
favoring substance over style in recent weeks. "We've shown this
season what we're capable of at times," he said. "Winning well,
playing great football, and also digging in when we need to. We've
got both aspects of the game in this squad and hopefully we can win
many more."
Chelsea's Premier League title win has been solid but not
spectacularEden Hazard's header following a saved penalty was
enough to secure Chelsea's fourth Premier League title.In recent
Premier League campaigns, we've been treated to some outstanding
end-of-season drama.
Sergio Aguero's 94th-minute winner against QPR to seal the
2011-12 title for Manchester City was the most incredible clincher
in the Premier League era, while other run-ins have also been
memorable: Chelsea sealed the title in 2009-10 with an 8-0 victory
on the final day, and Manchester United's 2013 triumph was clinched
with a Robin van Persie strike that was voted goal of the
season.
Even when the clinching game wasn't memorable in itself, the
run-in as a whole was often superb. Manchester United recorded a
fine 2-1 victory over Chelsea to effectively win the title in
2010-11, while Liverpool's astonishing collapses last season
against Chelsea and Crystal Palace will live long in the memory.
Put simply, it's been a while since the title was won in an
efficient, comfortable and inevitable manner.
There was something inevitable about the bitty, unspectacular
way Chelsea hauled themselves over the finishing line on Sunday: an
Eden Hazard header -- from an Eden Hazard missed penalty that had
been won by Eden Hazard -- sealed a narrow and slightly fortunate
1-0 victory.
Then nothing much happened and Jose Mourinho took off two
attacking midfielders for two defensive midfielders. Defensive
rigidity, combined with individual magic from the league's best
footballer, is a perfect summary of Chelsea's title victory. It
works neatly for champions who won't be remembered fondly. In
truth, this team won't earn the credit they deserve because, from
start to finish this season, Mourinho's men have been the best team
in the division.
Chelsea have effectively been top every week -- in the first
three weeks only goal difference meant they weren't literally No. 1
-- but since Week 4 they've been at the summit after each of their
matches. They started on pole position and have lapped the
field.
Enthralling in the first few months, Chelsea eventually depended
on clean sheets more than goals, and it's difficult to remember a
more settled defence in recent Premier League history.
This quartet of Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill, John Terry and
Cesar Azpilicueta is unchanged from last season, to the extent that
Filipe Luis has been unable to get into the side at left-back
because of Azpilicueta's continued excellence on the "wrong" side
of the pitch.
If an unchanged defence feels like something of a throwback, the
Spaniard embodies that feeling too: a full-back selected primarily
for his defensive abilities and, in particular, his one-on-one
brilliance.
Azpilicueta isn't a natural left-back, and Ivanovic isn't a
natural right-back. He's happier in the centre of defence, which
means both full-backs tuck inside and defend narrow, helping the
centre-backs. Terry has been a supreme leader and his performance
in a goalless draw at Arsenal last week was as good a defensive
performance as you'll ever see. Cahill and Kurt Zouma have played a
decent supporting role.
The midfield combination, too, has often worked beautifully.
Mourinho has certainly become more cautious in the second half of
the campaign, but the relationship between Nemanja Matic and Cesc
Fabregas was highly impressive before Christmas. The Serbian boasts
the strength and the positional sense to command the centre of the
pitch solo, as well as an ability to stroke neat left-footed passes
into attack.
Then there was Fabregas, a distinctly "un-Mourinho" player who
combined the guile in deep positions from his teenage years with
his off-the-ball running and contribution in the final third of
recent seasons. The separation of duties was clear; this was no
double pivot, but a straightforward defensive-attacking split
between two midfielders at the top of their game.
Eden Hazard was a dribbler, assister and goal scorer combined,
while Diego Costa provided the biggest difference between last
season and this: a constant source of goals. Capable of running the
channels on the break or thriving on crosses, his ruthless and
sheer nastiness epitomise Mourinho's demands.
Chelsea's huge winning margin certainly owes something to the
shortcomings of their major rivals. Manchester City were ready to
challenge midway through the campaign, but dropped off
dramatically, seemingly because they lack the ruthless
determination of Mourinho, Terry and Chelsea.
Arsenal, meanwhile, made a horrendous start to the campaign for
no good reason, and by the time they lost 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in
their seventh game, they were already nine points behind and never
realistic title rivals.Manchester United also started poorly when
Louis van Gaal was struggling to communicate his approach to the
players, while Liverpool's inability to replicate Luis Suarez and
Daniel Sturridge's goal-scoring tally from last season meant they
were also nonstarters.
There was no challenge; Chelsea are in a class of their own.
Besides, almost every season supporters attempt to detract from the
title winners' achievements by questioning their rivals, as if
there was some golden age with half-a-dozen sides of title-winning
quality. There wasn't, and this Chelsea would be champions in the
vast majority of Premier League campaigns.
But what Chelsea have lacked -- in part because they've won the
Premier League so easily -- has been a defining moment. Everyone
can remember a brilliant counterattacking goal from the Cristiano
Ronaldo-era Manchester United, a classic Arsenal passing move from
the "Invincibles" or a nicely worked team goal from Manchester
City's victorious sides.
From this season, it's difficult to find anything particularly
memorable. Arsene Wenger's recent comment that a 1-0 Chelsea
victory was "the usual" was primarily a joke taken slightly too
seriously, but there's also a degree of truth.It's been an
understated, consistent and sometimes dull title win. There has
been no standout goal, no crushing victory over their rivals and no
single dramatic moment. Import last season's 6-0 thrashing of
Arsenal, and it's a different situation.
Which is not to say this is a criticism, more simply a realistic
prediction of this side's legacy. Historically, football teams are
remembered in snapshots, because it's impossible to remember 38
games, nearly twice as many goals and the contributions of 20
players.
We need moments and, because Chelsea didn't provide those, they
will therefore be somewhat forgotten.