When Michy Batshuayi scored a late goal against West Brom last Friday, everyone associated with Chelsea was ecstatic as the Blues claimed the Premier League title under boss Antonio Conte.
It has been a comprehensive season for last season’s strugglers, with almost every player contributing to the team’s success. The team has had their share of ups and downs, though. Like every title winning campaign, this season too was shaped by some important matches.
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We take a look at five such games that defined and probably propelled the West Londoners to a historic title win.
#5 Chelsea 2-0 Hull City
For the ordinary follower, this might have been just another match that showcased the Blues’ clinical approach. The composure was the hallmark of their title-winning season. But, this was the encounter that saw Antonio Conte switch the formation to a 3-4-3. The way the team lined up at the KCOM Stadium on the first of October raised a few eyebrows. Chelsea were on the back of a three-match winless streak and ready to be written off from being title contenders.
Goals from Diego Costa and Willian saw Chelsea walk away with a comfortable win and three much needed points. The West Londoners displayed their character as they shrugged off a traumatic outing at the Emirates to get back to winning ways.
The team looked more confident at the back and precise upfront. Domination and a flurry of chances created in the second half resulted in two valuable goals. The win saw Chelsea moving to sixth in the league table.
#4 Chelsea 5-0 Everton
This encounter at the Bridge was definitely one of the most exquisite attacking performances of the season. While Conte opted for the same team for the fourth straight league match, his Everton counterpart Koeman switched to a three-man defence. Hazard opened the scoring in the 18th minute. It was the beginning of a memorable night for the Belgian. The Chelsea forwards were at their creative best as Hazard scored a brace, while Diego Costa, Marcos Alonso and Pedro scored one each.
Everton failed to get a single shot on target, proving how solid the home team’s back three was as it was the team’s fifth straight clean sheet The match will be mostly remembered for Hazard’s beautiful brace. Both Hazard and Pedro were given a standing ovation as they were substituted late in the match.
The stellar performance led Koeman to opine that the Blues were playing a “very high level of football” and that the 3-4-3 system had been implemented well by the side. But most importantly, this win made the critics rethink having written them off.
#3 Chelsea 0-2 Tottenham
The hype was unbelievable, as the table-toppers met the North Londoners at White Hart Lane; a clash that had the potential to define the title race. Chelsea seemed Invincible, on the back of a 13-match winning streak. The run saw Conte’s men break numerous records; they had equalled Arsenal’s record for most consecutive wins in a season.
It seemed nothing could go wrong until Dele Alli rose to meet Christian Eriksen’s cross and head home in the stoppage time of first half. The same pair then combined to double the lead against the league leaders.
Chelsea were tactically outplayed, as the players, especially N’Golo Kante, seemed lost. Tottenham also exposed the aerial weakness of the Chelsea side. It was the Achilles heel that the rivals were hoping to discover as soon as possible. Chelsea had been proven beatable, by their London rivals.
#2 Chelsea 4-0 Manchester United
The most iconic match of the 2016/17 Premier League season saw the Blues decimate Manchester United 4-0, to ruin the Special One’s homecoming. The build-up was surreal- Jose Mourinho returning to the Bridge almost a year since he was unceremoniously sacked by Chelsea and that too, as the gaffer of the Red Devils. It took just 30 seconds for the champs to go up as Pedro rounded De Gea to put the ball into an open net.
Goals from Hazard, Cahill and Kante made it an unexpected rout as Chelsea had made a mockery of their proud opponents. Conte had ensured that his side was on top, in every aspect.
They capitalised on United’s horrendous defensive errors and the magnitude of the result made Chelsea serious title contenders. Throughout the match, chants of “You’re not special anymore” echoed in the stadium.
#1 Arsenal 3-0 Chelsea
The season was young and Chelsea travelled to the Emirates to face their London rivals in a much anticipated London derby. They were on the back of a home defeat to Liverpool. Frail, would be the best way to describe Chelsea’s defensive performance that night. Theo Walcott, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez had the Chelsea defenders running ragged.
It was a spectacular display of football by the Gunners but more importantly, it was an underwhelming display by Conte’s side who were blunt in attack and shoddy at the back. The match witnessed some beautiful goals and a great show of counter-attacking football. By the end of it, Ozil was having fun with the Chelsea defenders struggling to get anything right.
The footballing world united in the opinion that the Blues needed captain John Terry, to bolster their defence. Only for Conte to disagree. Arsene Wenger had just shown Conte that the Italian had a huge job on his hands. And he did live up to it.
The traumatic game ranks first among the matches as it defined the newly crowned Champions’ season. The match prompted the Chelsea boss to make the transition to the revolutionary 3-4-3. And that is probably why Conte remarked, that it was “important to remember” this match.
