Whilst Chelsea may look back on 2014 with disappointment considering it is a club that is used to winning silverware each year, the manner in which the calender year has finished will be pleasing to all supporters.
The Blues have been the standout side in the Premier League this season and almost won the title in 2013/14 – with a squad that Chelsea fans will describe as half built under Jose Mourinho.
The summer arrivals of Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas have taken Chelsea to a new level this term and they are deservedly the favourites to win the title this season despite their shock 5-3 defeat to Tottenham earlier today.
Whilst last season’s run-in ended in disappointment, Chelsea still played some excellent football and scored some fine goals along the way.
Here we have looked back on the best action in 2014, and compiled a list of five of the best goals Chelsea fans enjoyed.
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Click on Jose Mourinho to reveal Chelsea’s FIVE best goals in the year that was 2014.
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Samuel Eto’o vs Manchester United
Whilst this strike may have taken a fortunate deflection on route to the top corner, any goal that sees you on your way to a hat-trick against Manchester United in front of your home fans deserves to make a top five at least!
Samuel Eto’o confirmed his cult hero status with Blues fans with a curling strike from the edge of the box that deflected into the top corner beyond David De Gea while sending the Blues on their way to a comfortable 3-1 victory over Manchester United in January.
This result saw Chelsea firmly establish themselves as serious title contenders, whilst also pushing David Moyes closer to the exit door at Old Trafford.
Samuel Eto’o vs Arsenal
Chelsea fans will surely tell you one of their highlights of 2014 was the 6-0 thrashing of Arsenal in March – a day that ruined Arsene Wenger’s highly anticipated 1000th match in charge of the Gunners.
And as was often the case, it was Samuel Eto’o who fired an important goal against a major rival, opening the scoring after just a couple of minutes.
The Cameroon international stepped inside on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain before bending a perfectly placed shot across the Arsenal goalkeeper and into the bottom corner, setting the Blues on the road to another famous win over their London rivals.
Willian vs Stoke City
The continued progression of Chelsea’s Brazilian international winger has been a high point of 2014 and his goal to cap a convincing 3-0 win over Stoke City in early April was special not just for the quality of the finish, but the way it sent Chelsea top of the table – and seemingly on their way to another Premier League title.
The collapse that followed may have been disappointing but Willian’s superb curling finish should be seen as a sign there is plenty more to come not only from him but Chelsea as a team – something Mourinho’s men have been proving with each passing week this season.
Eden Hazard vs Newcastle United
Few would argue that Eden Hazard has been Chelsea’s man of 2014and his hat-trick in the 3-0 win over Newcastle in February was another special moment from the Belgian.
The result sent Chelsea to the top of the Premier League and further underlined just how important Hazard has become to Chelsea.
The Belgian opened the scoring after a sublime one-two with Samuel Eto’o whilst the finish showed the pace and composure in front of goal that has become his trademark over the past 12 months.
Cesc Fabregas vs Crystal Palace
The signing of Cesc Fabregas in the summer has taken Chelsea to a new level and this superb tiki-taka goal against Crystal Palace in October was further evidence of this.
The Spaniard somehow worked his way into the box after an exchange of superb one touch passes whilst his finish to give the goalkeeper the eyes and slot it into the bottom corner capped off an extremely classy moment for the Blues, and one in which helped them maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League.
