With the goal of
Batshuayi against West Bromwich Albion what seemed inevitable finally
happened: Chelsea won 1-0 and secured the Premier League title with a
difference of 10 points over Tottenham Hotspurs and three matches
remaining. The team managed by Antonio Conte had a wonderful season,
and never risked the top place. The Blues became a fierce team and,
more importantly, had the consistency required to carry the pressure
of being on top of the most exciting football league with no issues.
Conte managed to get
a blend that not every team can achieve: a solid defense with an
explosive offense. That is his main mark, as we saw in his spell in
Juventus and Italy, and he did a great job printing it on the field
this season. The team is cohesive, with three centre backs as the
core of the defense and with every other player helping, and has a
terrific transition once they get the ball. The great form of their
attackers, especially Diego Costa and Eden Hazard, just made things
easier. But it’s because Conte’s tactical system that they shine,
and the fact that he managed to get a stable formation early in the
season proved to be a crucial factor, over more “unstable” teams
in those first weeks like Manchester City (managed by Pep Guardiola)
and Manchester United (coached by Mourinho). It is true that
Chelsea’s style isn’t the most attractive one out there. Even if
they are the most scoring team in the league, the style of Chelsea is
not a fancy one, and was labeled as “defensive”. It may lack some
creativity at times, and this is something to improve (especially for
Champions League, where games are tougher and decided by moments of
brilliance), but the numbers proves those claims wrong.
Not only Diego Costa
and Hazard shined through the season: one special mention should be
done for one of the best defensive midfielders in the globe: N’Golo
Kanté. After his wonderful season at Leicester, his arrival to
Chelsea was a challenge: he had to earn a spot in a team with a lot
of great midfielders, like Matic and Cesc Fábregas. Not only had he
made it: he was spectacular. His physical display mixed with his
skills to read the field and always be well positioned made him a key
player in a team where the tactical reading of a match was always a
deciding factor. Other players, like Pedro, Willian and Batshuayi,
helped by performing well when they had to. The defense saw high
levels from David Luiz and Cahill, and Courtouis was a reliable
goalkeeper with solid appearances as he has been for the last years.
Looking ahead,
Chelsea has some areas to strength: even if Diego Costa remains,
another forward is on the verge, with names like Alexis Sanchez
whispering around. A left back might also be a position to fill. Even
if the team plays with three center backs, the left flank was the
weakest spot during the league. Nevertheless, nothing is going to
overshadow the excellent season that Chelsea had, and the Blues are
going to be a hard bone to crack for any rival they may face next
season in the Champions League.
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