Saturday, May 13, 2017

Chelsea crowned Premier League champions as Michy Batshuayi claimed late winner


Chelsea players celebrate in the dressing room after securing the Premier League title on Friday night

Chelsea clinched their fifth Premier League title on Friday night with a 1-0 win over West Brom at the Hawthorns after Michy Batshuayi came off the bench to grab the winning goal.

The Belgian international, a peripheral figure for much of the campaign, notched only his second league goal for the Blues in the 82nd minute to secure the win over Tony Pulis' side.

Antonio Conte and his players then led mass celebrations in front of their jubilant away supporters after the final whistle was blown.



The Blues were crowned champions after sealing a 1-0 away win over West Brom at The Hawthorns

The Blues were crowned champions after sealing a 1-0 away win over West Brom at The Hawthorns

Cesar Azpilicueta, Gary Cahill and David Luiz lead the celebrations as Chelsea enjoy their night of triumph

Cesar Azpilicueta, Gary Cahill and David Luiz lead the celebrations as Chelsea enjoy their night of triumph

Match-winner Michy Batshuayi holds a camera and takes a picture of the away fans celebrating their Premier League triumph

Match-winner Michy Batshuayi holds a camera and takes a picture of the away fans celebrating their Premier League triumph

Chelsea players slide on the grass in front of the away end as they continue their title celebrations

Chelsea players slide on the grass in front of the away end as they continue their title celebrations

Thibaut Courtois (centre) leaps in between Willian and Eden Hazard as Marcos Alonso (left) stretches his arms out wide 

Thibaut Courtois (centre) leaps in between Willian and Eden Hazard as Marcos Alonso (left) stretches his arms out wide 

Antonio Conte applauds the away fans as the Chelsea players and staff dive onto the pitch at the end of the game

Antonio Conte applauds the away fans as the Chelsea players and staff dive onto the pitch at the end of the game

Striker Diego Costa enjoys the victory moment alongside Terry, Willian and Azpilicueta

Striker Diego Costa enjoys the victory moment alongside Terry, Willian and Azpilicueta

Chelsea skipper Terry touches the badge on his chest after signing off with a fifth Premier League title

Chelsea skipper Terry touches the badge on his chest after signing off with a fifth Premier League title


And speaking after the game to Sky Sports, midfielder Cesc Fabregas summed up the thoughts of everyone connected to the club when he declared: 'Football is f****** unbelievable.'

The Spaniard said: 'I thought it was going to be one of those days. We had so many chances in the first half and then we got a bit nervous.

'The beauty of football, a player who didn't play a lot scores the winning goal for the championship. Football is f****** unbelievable.'

Blues skipper Gary Cahill praised his team-mates, insisting they deserved their success.

Chelsea manager Conte is thrown in the air by the players after the Blues secured the league title at West Brom

Chelsea manager Conte is thrown in the air by the players after the Blues secured the league title at West Brom

Chelsea skipper Terry is thrown into the air as the players celebrate in front of the away supporters

Chelsea skipper Terry is thrown into the air as the players celebrate in front of the away supporters

Chelsea forward Pedro strikes a pose as he thrown up into the air following the final whistle at West Brom

Chelsea forward Pedro strikes a pose as he thrown up into the air following the final whistle at West Brom

Midfielder N'Golo Kante is serenaded by his team-mates after securing a second successive Premier League title

Midfielder N'Golo Kante is serenaded by his team-mates after securing a second successive Premier League title


He said: 'These are times in football. These opportunities that you want to grasp with both hands. You just want to cherish them. 

'Consistently I think we've been the best team in the league. There's no better feeling than this in football. 

'People have written us off as a team and individually and this has shut them up. We are champions. It's another one in the cabinet.'

Costa, David Luiz, Eden Hazard and Willian celebrate in the dressing room as they bask in their glory

Costa, David Luiz, Eden Hazard and Willian celebrate in the dressing room as they bask in their glory

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois takes a selfie alongside midfielder Cesc Fabregas as they celebrate victory

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois takes a selfie alongside midfielder Cesc Fabregas as they celebrate victory

Conte is greeted by jubilant celebrations in the dressing room as his players prepare to give him a soaking

Conte is greeted by jubilant celebrations in the dressing room as his players prepare to give him a soaking

Chelsea star duo Hazard and Pedro pose for the camera after securing their Premier League winners' medals

Chelsea star duo Hazard and Pedro pose for the camera after securing their Premier League winners' medals


Club captain John Terry, who has spent most of the season on the substitutes' bench, revealed he was proud of the newly crowned champions.

'These boys have been on the field doing it week in week out. It's been a delight to sit and watch, a different perspective.

'The togetherness was shown from day one.'

Antonio Conte, who became the fourth manager to win the Premier League in his first season in charge, added: 'I think this achievement is a great achievement for the players, my players. 

'I want to show thanks for their commitment and their desire to do something this season. After this win I think we must be happy for this season.'

The Italian cited his reversion to the 3-4-3 formation in September after a run of bad form as key to the club's charge to the title. 


The Chelsea players enjoy their celebrations in the away dressing room at The Hawthorns after the final whistle

The Chelsea players enjoy their celebrations in the away dressing room at The Hawthorns after the final whistle

Team-mates and Brazilian countrymen Diego Costa and Willian celebrate sealing their second Premier League title

Team-mates and Brazilian countrymen Diego Costa and Willian celebrate sealing their second Premier League title

Striker Costa enjoyed himself after the game as he stripped off his kit and savoured the moment

Striker Costa enjoyed himself after the game as he stripped off his kit and savoured the moment

Chelsea stars David Luiz, Marcos Alonso and Willian looked like they were enjoying themselves after the game

Chelsea stars David Luiz, Marcos Alonso and Willian looked like they were enjoying themselves after the game

Spanish team-mates Cesc Fabregas and Pedro enjoy the title-winning moment together after the final whistle

Spanish team-mates Cesc Fabregas and Pedro enjoy the title-winning moment together after the final whistle

Chelsea stars Diego Costa and David Luiz pose for a selfie in the away dressing room at the Hawthorns on Friday night

Chelsea stars Diego Costa and David Luiz pose for a selfie in the away dressing room at the Hawthorns on Friday night


‘That decision changed our season. We had to change and find a new suit for our team. In my mind there was this option to play a 3-4-3 because I knew I had the players to do that.

‘We were not lucky, we did a great job. It's important to rest. It is a great season but now we can win the FA Cup.

‘Every game I feel like I have played with my players! I show my passion and my will, my desire to stay with my players in every moment of the game. This is me, I am this.

‘In the present, in the past, I stay with my players in positive and negative situations. We won this title together.’ 


Chelsea's Spanish contingent Marcos Alonso, Pedro and Cesc Fabregas pose for a picture in the dressing room

Chelsea's Spanish contingent Marcos Alonso, Pedro and Cesc Fabregas pose for a picture in the dressing room

Kurt Zouma and Kante were all smiles as they grinned for the camera following Friday night's win

Kurt Zouma and Kante were all smiles as they grinned for the camera following Friday night's win



Frank Lampard enjoyed Chelsea's winning moment and posted a picture of himself in front of the away fans on Instagram

Frank Lampard enjoyed Chelsea's winning moment and posted a picture of himself in front of the away fans on Instagram



Chelsea star Willian's father was spotted in the away end watching his son secure his second title with the club

Chelsea star Willian's father was spotted in the away end watching his son secure his second title with the club

Conte was joined by his touchline opponent Tony Pulis and Sky Sports presenter Geoff Shreeves for a glass of wine

Conte was joined by his touchline opponent Tony Pulis and Sky Sports presenter Geoff Shreeves for a glass of wine


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