The countdown to Chelsea’s fourth Premier League title success continued at the weekend, following a 2-1 victory over Stoke City at Stamford Bridge.
On a day that will be remembered for Charlie Adam putting the plenty of weight he has behind the ball and firing one in from his own half, it was goals from Eden Hazard and Loic Remy that ensured the Blues maintained their seven point gap at the top of the table – and still with a game in hand remaining.
It is surely just a matter of time before Chelsea are collecting their winners medals, which will go nicely alongside those they picked up at Wembley on the 1st March having beaten Tottenham to the Capital One Cup.
But what have we learnt from a season that has seen Chelsea dominate pretty much from the word go? Here we have identified a top five.
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Click on Jose Mourinho to reveal the top 5 ‘things we’ve learnt’ from Chelsea’s season
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Everyone else has had a shocker
Chelsea have enjoyed a decent season, and will deservedly end up as Premier League champions. But will they be remembered as one of the Premier League greats? Probably not, down to the fact every one of their supposed title challengers have had a shocking season.
Manchester City have struggled to sustain any sort of challenge from the word go, whilst Manchester United think a top four finish is acceptable – despite having spent almost £200million on new players in the two windows leading up to the new season.
Arsenal have been made to pay for a poor start, yet Arsene Wenger looks set to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes with the ‘trophy’ of a top four finish once more.
And Liverpool made a horror start and were never in the mix, despite their challenge of last season. Chelsea have been rewarded for being the only club to show any sort of consistency throughout the season, but in all honesty – there haven’t been any decent challengers from pretty much the word go.
Diego Costa… We hate you, but God we respect you
Mourinho will feel his side should have won the league last season, having been top of the table heading into the final stretch.
The Blues were made to pay for the fact they didn’t have a top striker on the books, with Demba Ba, Samuel Eto’o and Fernando Torres all struggling at various points of the last campaign.
That meant a world class striker was the priority for the next window, and credit where it is due to Mourinho and Chelsea – they got Diego Costa.
The Blues have endured some shocking signings when it comes to strikers, but this one they seem to have got absolutely spot on.
The Brazilian born Spaniard has taken over the title of the most hated striker in the Premier League from Luis Suarez, but it is attitude and aggression on the pitch that set’s him apart.
Despite some of his behaviour, you can’t help but admit Chelsea have a world class proven goalscorer leading the line at last – and he has been the main reason behind their impending title success this season, with 20 goals and four assits in 31 appearances in all competitions to his name.
Oscar doesn’t like to play after Christmas
There is no doubting the talent of Chelsea’s Brazilian playmaker, yet he has picked up the unhelpful habit of simply not performing after the Christmas period.
He faded badly during the second half of last season, as Chelsea faltered during the final stretch of the title race. Mourinho said the fact he had one eye on the summer’s World Cup in Brazil was the reason behind it, but what is the excuse for doing the exact same thing this time around?
If Chelsea are to strengthen in the summer, you can’t help but wonder if Oscar is the most likely to make way – give Mourinho’s new found love and respect for Financial Fair Play.
Willian doesn’t get the respect he deserves
He may not get the headlines of Eden Hazard or Diego Costa, but Chelsea’s Brazilian winger has been outstanding this season.
Four goals and four assists in 36 appearances in all competitions are hardly outstanding stats, but Willian has been a key figure in Chelsea’s (and Mourinho’s) style of play, working tirelessly down the wing, creating constant problems going forward and crucially making space for others.
Mourinho challenged Willian at the start of the season to take more shots at goal this season, and that has certainly been evident. If he can progress next season and add a few more goals and assists to his game, he may start to get the recognition of some of the other big names in the squad – although Chelsea fans have been steadily appreciating him more as the season has gone on.
Nobody likes them – and they don’t care
Chelsea will end the season as Premier League champions, but look set to come last in any sort of popularity contest. Do they give a damn? Of course not.
Jose Mourinho has been busy creating that ‘us against the world’ mentality this season, and whilst it may have been effective in some ways, some incidents this season have moved Chelsea onto the top of many supporters ‘most disliked club’ list.
The negative style of football, the diving incidents, the ‘campaign’ of the referees, the bizarre rant on Goals on Sunday, the dreadful incident on the Paris Metro, and the surrounding of the officials during the return leg, are all moments that have seen supporters turn against Chelsea at various points in the season.
Chelsea fans will be delighted to see their team lift the Premier League title at the end of the season, but they may do so as perhaps the most unpopular champions of all time. But what we have learnt this season, is that nobody connected with Chelsea cares one bit.
