By Gary Watton
May 21 2017
A rampant Chelsea finished off their sixth season as English champions in style with their sixth straight Premier League triumph. They will hope to build upon this impressive sequence in August when they set about a defence of their thoroughly deserved silverware and seek to outdo their thirteen in a row which they magnificently accomplished in mid winter. On this day, John Terry fittingly bowed out of his unsurpassable career at Chelsea by being substituted in the 26th minute amidst a guard of honour from his grateful team mates. Stamford Bridge bade an emotional and grateful farewell to one of its greatest ever players.
Meanwhile the equally popular Antonio Conte reverted to a strong starting eleven, and in spite of conceding an early goal, the best team in Britain gradually asserted their superiority. It was great to see the underused Batshuayi have the final say once more, as he helped himself to a late double. The young Belgian marksman is constructing a compelling case to be retained next year, although presumably he would want guarantees that he will be furnished with much greater game time. However, with Champions League football to cope with, perhaps Michy will be in demand after all.
All that is left is for the happy campers to reconvene next Saturday at Wembley, attempt to avenge the heartbreak of 2002, and win the club's second double, thereby confirming the team as England's finest. However, not all FA Cup finals prove to be predictable. Arsenic would dearly love to thwart us, and dare I say it, they just might.
Chelsea secured league doubles against the following twelve victims:
Bournemouth
Everton (including two clean sheets)
Hull City (including two clean sheets)
Leicester City (including two clean sheets)
Manchester City
Middlesbrough (including two clean sheets)
Southampton
Stoke City
Sunderland
Watford
West Ham United
West Bromwich Albion (including two clean sheets)
Chelsea were also unbeaten against Burnley and Swansea, and 'remarkably' took a maximum of eighteen points off the three relegated teams! This speaks of utter ruthlessness.
Liverpool were the only team that Chelsea failed to win against.
CHELSEA 5 Sunderland 1; half time: 1-1
CHELSEA goal scorers: Willian; Hazard; Pedro; Batshuayi (two)
CHELSEA team: Courtois; Azpilicueta; Luis; Terry; Alonso; Moses; Fabregas; Kante; Costa; Willian; Hazard. Used substitutes: Cahill; Batshuayi; Pedro
CHELSEA leading scorers:
Costa 21 goals
Hazard seventeen goals (including two penalties)
Pedro fourteen goals
Willian twelve goals (including one penalty)
Batshuayi nine goals (including one penalty)
Cahill eight goals
Fabregas seven goals
Alonso six goals
Moses four goals
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