Chelsea Football Club has officially clinched the Barclays Premier League title for the first time in five years. We are the best in England once again, and on the twenty-fourth of May that absolutely stunning piece of silverware will return to SW6 after a four year stint in Manchester.
Throughout every Premier League season, we constantly hear some fixtures labeled as ‘the type of match that champions have to win’. Chelsea have been nearly perfect this season, only losing twice en route to their fourth Premier League crown and breaking the record for most consecutive days at the top of the table. Upon their sealing of the title, they sat comfortably clear of second place Manchester City by thirteen points with three matches still to play. So from this point of view, the Blues actually have been so dominant this year that they’ve earned plenty of wiggle room, and a few dropped points here and there wouldn’t have a made a huge difference in their final league position. However, there have been many times this season where, against all odds, Chelsea were able to get the result they needed when it looked like they might have slipped up. It was tough to narrow down my list, but I like to look back at these five matches and say, ‘That’s why we’re champions!’
Stoke 0-2 Chelsea (22 December 2014, Britannia Stadium)
Chelsea’s start to the season was absolutely dominant – their first defeat didn’t come until December. Many pundits and football fans alike have enjoyed pointing out the difference in Chelsea’s performances in the first half of the season and the second half. The dominant, high quality, goal scoring football that saw Chelsea take this season by the scruff of the neck evolved into defensive, tactical, result-oriented play. That change has also seen us labelled as ‘boring’.
I like to highlight this match because it was at the pinnacle of our dominance. The famously busy Christmas period was always going to be a tough one, but even more so when beginning it at Britannia Stadium. Even worse, the cliche of a ‘cold, wet, windy Monday night at Stoke’ became a reality! High-flying, top of the league Chelsea were up for it though; captain John Terry put us ahead inside the first ten minutes. The match was extremely tough and physical – Stoke tackles were flying in left and right. Eden Hazard was getting battered, and I began to wonder to myself whether I was watching American handegg or football. Cesc Fabregas scored in the 78th, sealing the three points, and Chelsea had passed the test. Confidently winning such a tough match gave me the feeling that this season would be something really special…
Aston Villa 1-2 Chelsea (7 Feb 2015, Villa Park)
Going up to Birmingham to take on lowly Aston Villa seemed like it would be business as usual for the Blues – especially after Willian slipped the ball into the penalty area for Eden Hazard to tuck into the bottom corner just eight minutes in. However, it was a stale performance from there out, and the home side equalized early in the second half. Chelsea were desperate for any bit of brilliance that could snatch them the three points, and that exact bit was provided by Branislav Ivanovic. A jumble of deflections in the box resulted in the ball popping out and bouncing into the path of the Serbian, who proceeded to strike it on the volley with his weak foot. From just inside the box, the ball rocketed off Branislav’s boot and flew into the top left corner! I couldn’t believe what I was seeing at first, but Ivanovic has always had an eye for goal… Get in there! It was that one flash of quality that saw us snatch all three points from a tough day in the West Midlands.
Chelsea 1-0 Everton (11 Feb 2015, Stamford Bridge)
It was a Wednesday night at Stamford Bridge against a stubborn Everton side who always seems to give us problems. Furthermore, it was an especially bland performance from the boys that had me worried. The later it got, the more Everton sat back, and the more Chelsea struggled. Possession after possession, chance after chance, and nothing to show for it, the game remained goalless until the 89th minute…
Ivanovic’s header fell into an area filled with bodies, but it was ultimately cleared by a weak Tim Howard punch. The ball took one bounce before sitting up perfectly for Willian to hit it on the volley. Time slowed to a crawl as the football travelled from the poofy-haired Brazilian’s foot through the legs of not one, but two defenders before sneaking into the near post. Stamford Bridge erupted, as did Tim Howard – the shot could have likely been saved had he not anticipated his defender’s clearance. Instead, the ball took a couple of slight deflections and creeped into the back of the net. ‘That’s what champions are made of!’ cried out the commentator.
Hull City 2-3 Chelsea (22 March 2015, The KC Stadium)
A dream start for Chelsea quickly became a nightmare by half-time. The Blues led 2-0 before the ten minute mark courtesy of a pair of fantastic strikes from Eden Hazard and Diego Costa, respectively. Chelsea were playing beautiful attacking football and the game honestly felt like it could have ended up a five or six goal thumping. I can’t lie, I was excited. Two goals within two minutes came for Hull, the second being a result of an uncharacteristically bizarre miscommunication between Ivanovic and Courtois. After a half hour of football, the two sides were level.
From then on, Chelsea were trying their hardest to nick the winning goal, but it just wouldn’t come. Loic Remy was brought on in the 77th minute, and he’s had the magic touch for us all season. The man has always seemed to score a goal every time he steps onto the pitch, even when coming on as a late sub. Wouldn’t you know it, the Frenchman’s first touch of a football that day ended up in the back of the net. Willian squared it to him near the penalty spot and Remy’s outstretched left foot smacked the ball right at the keeper, but it managed to squeeze its way in. In another tight match, Chelsea found a way to turn a draw into three points.
QPR 0-1 Chelsea (12 April 2015, Loftus Road)
What a memorable finish this match had… at Loftus Road against our noisy west London counterparts, many thought we’d smash them. Didier Drogba was up top for that one, and his poor performance not only made it tough for Chelsea but it also resulted in criticism from some fans. It just wasn’t happening for Chelsea that afternoon, much like the match against Everton that I mentioned earlier. QPR even looked threatening at some points. They pressed us hard and made life difficult for their visitors. It was very frustrating to watch, Chelsea had trouble creating even half a chance! Here we were, on our way to wrapping up the title, and we couldn’t even score against QPR! The home fans were all over us for ninety minutes, and a lot of the abuse was directed at John Terry. The away section sang back ‘John Terry, he’s won more than you!’
It only takes one flash of brilliance, and one moment of quality for Chelsea to hurt you. On this occasion, it took them eighty-eight minutes to produce a special moment of that caliber. Hazard cut in near the touchline and played a neat one-two with Oscar before putting it on a plate for Cesc Fabregas to sidefoot home. The team celebration was met with a disgraceful reaction from the QPR fans who pelted the Chelsea players with various objects. Branislav Ivanovic was hit by a lighter! It may have not been our best performance, but we found a way to grab all three points…. and that’s why we’re Champions.
