Sunderland 5-1

Telegraph:

Chelsea 5 Sunderland 1: Stamford Bridge says 'goodbye' to John Terry as champions end season in style

Matt Law

John Terry got the send-off he wanted, Chelsea got their hands on the Premier League trophy and Thibaut Courtois and César Azpilicueta achieved their personal milestones. This was a day for those inside Stamford Bridge and to hell with the cynics outside.

Champions Chelsea comfortably secured a record 30th League win of the season against relegated Sunderland, but the game was largely a sideshow to the pre-planned party.

Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford agreed to punt the ball out of play in the 26th minute, so that Chelsea could form a guard of honour for their No 26, Terry, to be replaced by Gary Cahill.


Purists will still be complaining of the final game of the season descending into farce, but Chelsea’s supporters who hung banners that read ‘JT thank you for everything’ and ‘Captain, Leader, Legend’ loved every minute.

With 717 Chelsea appearances to his name and the chance to earn a 16th winners’ medal in next Saturday’s FA Cup final that he will most probably watch from the substitutes’ bench, Terry had earned the right to time his Stamford Bridge farewell just the way he wanted.


Having lifted the Premier League trophy with Cahill, Terry was given the microphone and it was no surprise that the tears flowed as he assured the Stamford Bridge faithful that, one day, he will be back.

“You’ve given me everything from day one, when I first started out,” said 36-year-old Terry, who had his wife Toni and his children on the pitch. “You picked me up when I was down, sung my name when I’ve had bad days and disappointed you as well.

“Thank you will never ever be enough, but I’ll tell you what: I’ll be back here one day. I’m going to be supporting the players and the club from the bottom of my heart. Thank you so much, I love you all.”

After Sunderland manager David Moyes had confirmed that Pickford had acted on the request of Diego Costa to kick the ball out and let Terry have his moment, Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte said: “I think this idea of all my players was a great way to commemorate an important career. The guy is a legend for this club, and one of the best defenders in the world. He deserved this. It was very important to find the right solution to celebrate a great champion and a great legend for this club. He wrote Chelsea’s history.


“I wish, for him and for his family, the best in the future. For me, for the club, it would be a great loss next season without him. He helped me a lot this season, on and off the pitch. And now we must respect his decision.”

What was not in the script for what turned into a perfect day for Chelsea was Sunderland taking a shock lead in just the third minute, courtesy of Javier Manquillo. But the home side quickly hit back through Willian before Terry went off and then coasted to victory with second-half goals from Eden Hazard, his replacement Pedro and two from substitute Michy Batshuayi. Azpilicueta completed 90 minutes, which meant the defender played every minute of every Premier League game for the champions, and Courtois won the Golden Glove award.

The only moments the celebratory atmosphere was briefly interrupted surrounded Costa. He was booked after elbowing John O’Shea and then holding his own face, and was clearly annoyed when Conte decided to replace him with Batshuayi with half-an-hour remaining.


Costa waved to each side of Stamford Bridge as he left the pitch and it remains to be seen whether or not the gesture was intended as a goodbye of his own.

Having calmed down, Costa was soon smiling again as he threw nuts at team-mates on the bench and tipped water over Carlo Cudicini. Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich even got carried away with the carnival feel and joined in with a chorus of ‘Antonio’ at the final whistle.


“A lot of emotions today,” said Conte. “I think it’s great to finish the season this way, to celebrate a fantastic season. We won the League with 30 wins, which is very positive for us. Honestly, it was very difficult to imagine this, to be celebrating winning the League, but it happened. It happened only because we worked very hard.”

Rather than travelling back with his squad, Moyes was due to stay in London for a meeting with Sunderland owner Ellis Short on Monday and was non-committal on his future.

“I’m gutted we’ve been relegated, really disappointed the way the season’s gone,” said Moyes. “But you know? What do you do? Football has winners and it has people who lose. Look at Chelsea. They’re winning today. I hope in the future we’re involved in something similar.”



===============================


Mail:


Chelsea 5-1 Sunderland: Champions fight back to show class in emphatic win and give John Terry fitting send off as club legend is given guard of honour in 26th minute


By Sami Mokbel for the Daily Mail

On his final appearance at Stamford Bridge, John Terry divided opinion. No shock there then.

With the Premier League title already in the bag, this was always going to be Terry’s day.

But on his Stamford Bridge farewell, Chelsea’s captain had a final trick up his sleeve.

The fact he started the game was a surprise in itself, but what followed took the biscuit. The smart money was on Terry saying an emotional goodbye at some point in the second half.

So you can imagine the surprise when Chelsea’s No 26 was substituted in the 26th minute. It was certainly inventive: Terry is thought to have devised the ploy with the approval of his manager, Antonio Conte.

Whether it was in keeping with the values of English football is certainly worth debating.

Over-indulgent? Perhaps. Over-sentimental? Maybe. Farcical? Probably.


Indeed, the backlash on social media was overwhelming: critics pointed to the fact that on the day Chelsea were lifting the Premier League trophy, Terry made it all about him. This should have been the team’s celebration, not Terry’s. But after 717 appearances, who would begrudge the 36-year-old his day?

Terry will argue his right to dictate his own goodbye, particularly in a match that, with the Premier League won and relegation determined, was tantamount to a friendly. Similarly, Chelsea had earned the right to bid farewell to their long-serving captain any way they saw fit.

Terry was embraced by every single one of his team-mates before sauntering off to a guard of honour. The Stamford Bridge crowd were just as intent on showing their gratitude.

Terry looked close to tears. His wife, Toni, was not as successful in her attempts to prevent herself from crying. Don’t worry, Mrs Terry — you weren’t the only one.

After the game, microphone in hand, Terry finally cracked during the trophy ceremony, breaking down as he thanked everyone from his team-mates to the club’s super-rich owner, Roman Abramovich.

‘Thank you will never ever be enough, but I’ll tell you what: I’ll be back here one day,’ said Terry. ‘I’m going to be supporting the players and the club from the bottom of my heart. Thank you so much, I love you all.’


The day had gone according to Terry’s plan: sun, smiles, tears, trophies and — of course — the strangest substitution you will ever see.

Terry, of course, could still be afforded one last hurrah in next week’s FA Cup final against Arsenal.

The probability of him starting at Wembley is virtually non-existent.

Nonetheless, you would not bet against Terry having a 16th winners’ medal by Saturday night. Conte will do all he can to ensure Terry goes out on another high, the Italian’s team selection against Sunderland pointing towards next week’s Wembley showpiece. But for the inclusions of Willian, Cesc Fabregas and Terry Chelsea were at full strength as their manager looked to maintain his team’s title winning momentum.

Was it a risk? Yes. Did it pay off? Of course. Everything Conte’s touched has turned to gold this season.

There was a slight dip en route to their 30th league win of the season as Javi Manquillo gave relegated Sunderland a shock third-minute lead, thumping past Thibaut Courtois after Sebastian Larsson’s free-kick ricocheted off the Chelsea wall.


But on a day like this there was only ever going to be one outcome. Willian levelled for the champions five minutes later, benefiting from a Jordan Pickford mistake as the Brazilian’s firm effort squirmed through the Sunderland goalkeeper’s grasp.

It took 52 minutes for Chelsea to go ahead. Aptly, it was Eden Hazard — whose resurgence this season has been one of the keys behind the club’s title triumph — who scored the goal — firing an unerring angled strike past Pickford.

The floodgates were open. Pedro nodded into an empty net after a mix-up between Pickford and Joleon Lescott before Michy Batshauyi scored twice in the closing minutes to make it 5-1.

But the result was merely a side-show here. Chelsea fans came for the party. After the final whistle, they got what they came for. As did Terry.


CHELSEA (3-4-3): Courtois 6; Azpilicueta 7, Luiz 7, Terry 6.5 (Cahill 28, 7); Moses 7, Kante 7.5, Fabregas 7.5, Alonso 7; Willian 7.5, Costa 7 (Batshuayi 61, 8), Hazard 8.5 (Pedro 70 7.5). Begovic, Zouma, Matic, Chalobah. Booked: Costa

Conte: 8

SUNDERLAND (5-3-2): Pickford 5; Jones 5, O’Shea 5, Lescott 5; Manquillo 6, Larsson 5, Cattermole 5 (Gibson 87), Rodwell 6, Oviedo 5; Januzaj 5 (Gooch 61, 5), Borini 5. Subs: Mannone, Love, Asoro, Maja, Embleton. Booked: Jones

Moyes: 5

Ref: Neil Swarbrick - 6.5


=========================


Independent:


John Terry bids emotional farewell as champions Chelsea hammer relegated Sunderland

Chelsea 5 Sunderland 1: The captain received a guard of honour after being substituted in the 26th-minute

Miguel Delaney Stamford Bridge


It was a day that was more a prize-giving and a leaving do than a football match, and that was made all too clear when John Terry went off for his farewell in the 26th minute, but Chelsea at least completed the formality - for that is what it is against Sunderland - of winning the game. In that, they actually broke a Premier League record with this 5-1 by becoming the first side to win 30 games in a season, and set themselves up for next Saturday’s FA Cup final against Arsenal.

The winner in Antonio Conte will be pleased at that, the club icon in Terry was meanwhile delighted with his farewell.

The outgoing Chelsea captain might be considered one of the last of an old-fashioned breed of centre-halves, but his last act at Stamford Bridge as a player felt very ‘modern football’. In the 26th minute of the game, with the moment of course picked to acknowledge his shirt number, Terry was taken off for Gary Cahill so that he could bask in the crowd’s full acclaim. The supporters already had a huge banner saying ‘thank you for everything’ before the game, and there was even a makeshift guard of honour, as he got hearty hugs from so many teammates and his manager Conte.

It was obviously a nicely touching moment for Terry and all at Chelsea, but it was a slightly odd one from a football perspective, as a lot of the Sunderland players just looked on in the middle of what was notionally a competitive match. Some of those Sunderland players will have seen this before, mind, given that they happened to be the opposition the last time Chelsea did this - for Didier Drogba - at the end of the 2014-15 season.

Those at Chelsea say this was the idea of Terry himself, and that Conte was happy to go along with it. The crowd were more than happy to go along with it and, for all people might quibble with the moment, it would be difficult to be churlish about the gusty and very loud cheer the captain received.

There can be no doubting his legacy or status here.

In terms of the actual football, it was Sunderland who were cheering first, as Javier Manquillo lashed them into the lead after just three minutes. He found himself completely free at the edge of the box when a set-piece bounced towards him and, although Terry was actually the closest man, it was not his fault as the right-back powered the ball high into the net past Thibaut Courtois.

Sunderland were at that point looking quite vibrant and lively, and long way from the moribund side that got them relegated and could well get David Moyes out of the job, but - like their season - that challenge didn’t last long.

With a side that is likely to be very close to their FA Cup final XI, Chelsea soon began to overwhelm Sunderland, the equaliser almost came through sheer force of numbers. Marcos Alonso hit the bar with a brilliant free-kick and, after the scramble that followed, the ball eventually came out to Willian who rifled it past Jordan Pickford.

Full service was restored on the hour, as Eden Hazard scored a goal of arguably even greater quality, to make it 2-1. He powered it past Pickford, after some fine hold-up play by Diego Costa.

The Spanish international eventually went off for title-winning hero Michy Batshuayi, to a lot of cheers and a few plaintive looks, and it remains to be seen whether this will be Costa’s last game at Stamford Bridge too.

It was not the last goal of the game, nor the last moment of calamity in Sunderland’s pitiful season. On 79 minutes, Joleon Lescott attempted to head the ball back to Pickford, only for the ball to loop awkwardly to the side. Pedro was running in to easily nod it home.

Batshuayi himself then put a proper polish on the match, and turned it into a proper hammering for Sunderland, as he scored twice in stoppage time to make it 5-1.

Chelsea now look to the double, but Stamford Bridge was on this day most looking at one man.



============================


Guardian:

Chelsea dispatch Sunderland in style to bid John Terry a fond farewell

Chelsea 5 - 1 Sunderland


Dominic Fifield at Stamford Bridge


In the context of a glorious campaign and a glittering career it was hard to begrudge Chelsea and their departing captain all the pomp and circumstance. Passages of this occasion were heavily choreographed, from John Terry’s substitution as the clocks on the big screens at either end of the arena displayed 26 minutes to the post-match hoisting of the Premier League trophy. Others, like Sunderland’s utter capitulation, might as well have been. Throw in a golden glove for Thibaut Courtois and this was as close to the perfect afternoon as the locals could ever have envisaged.

It has been an exemplary season. Each of Chelsea’s champions was cheered as he stepped forward on to the plinth, erected on the centre-spot here, to be rewarded for a year when everyone at this club has bought into the manager’s mantra of “work, work, work”. Antonio Conte was hidden at the back of the throng, stage right, when Gary Cahill and Terry finally hoisted the trophy and the pyrotechnics, streamers and ticker tape exploded all around. It is not his style to hog the limelight, even if the players soon sought him out. The champagne sprayed thereafter probably ruined the Italian’s second suit of the day given he had already been drenched, albeit largely in energy drinks and water, at the final whistle.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the afternoon was that Terry, a player who has always worn his heart on his sleeve, kept it together until well over half an hour after the final whistle and they had finished playing the montage of his greatest moments. He finally cracked when he had the microphone in hand and, with the home support hanging on his every word, was addressing “one of the most difficult days of my life”. He offered thanks to those he has worked under and with and to Roman Abramovich, up in his box, who “really cares about this football club from the under-8s to the first team”.

The sight of his wife and children in tears finally pushed him over the edge, the speech rather stumbling as he faced those up in the Matthew Harding stand. “Lastly, you guys the fans, the best supporters in the world without a shadow of a doubt,” he said. “You’ve given me everything from the age of 17 when I first started out. You picked me up when I was down, sung my name when I’ve had bad days and disappointed you as well. [Saying] thank you will never ever be enough but I tell you: I’ll be back here one day. I’m going to be supporting the players and the club from the bottom of my heart. I love you all.” Thank you and goodnight.


The farewell ceremony had in effect begun far earlier in the afternoon when, at about 3.26pm, Conte delivered a nod and a wink from the sidelines, Diego Costa passed on the message to a pre-warned Jordan Pickford, and the goalkeeper obligingly sliced the ball out of play. The fourth official duly lifted the substitutes’ board and Terry’s time, as well as his number, was up. There were hand claps and hugs with all his team-mates, with the Chelsea players meandering over to the touchline to form a guard of honour for the departing captain. By the time Terry actually made it off the pitch, via a ceremonial transfer of the armband to Cahill, the game was closer to 29 minutes old.

David Moyes later admitted Sunderland had been aware of the plan and did not seem offended that a Premier League contest had descended into stage-managed sentimentality. It was not as if Chelsea were setting a precedent. This was Terry’s 717th appearance for this club, 580th as captain, and 345th and last at Stamford Bridge, with 15 major trophies claimed over 22 years on the books. The club may never see his like again. If anything had rested on the game, then it might have been less appropriate. Yet Chelsea are champions and Sunderland had long since been condemned. The locals would not have had it any other way.

In truth the whole occasion was always more celebration than contest. The visitors had joined in themselves for a while, thankful a miserable season was finally drawing to a conclusion. Javier Manquillo had volleyed them into an early lead while Terry was still on the pitch, though they were never likely to end life in the top flight on a rare high. Willian, belting a shot through Pickford after Marcos Alonso had struck the angle of post and bar with a free-kick, swiftly drew Chelsea level before Sunderland wilted completely in the final half-hour.

Eden Hazard scythed the champions ahead, then, with the visitors broken, Cesc Fàbregas’ pass was nodded over the on-rushing goalkeeper by Joleon Lescott with Pedro sprinting on to the loose ball to head into the unguarded net. The concession was farcical and the substitute Michy Batshuayi was then permitted to add his own brace in the dying moments.

Moyes is due to meet the Sunderland owner, Ellis Short, at his Chelsea home on Monday with his own future as manager up for discussion. His tenure has been traumatic to date.

“I’m gutted we’ve been relegated and really disappointed with the way the season has gone,” he said. “But what do you do? Football has winners and there are people who lose.”

Chelsea, with the FA Cup final still to come, fall into the former bracket. There were other departures to note here, with Steve Holland serenaded by the crowd and thanked publicly by Terry as he leaves to join Gareth Southgate’s England staff on a full-time basis. Costa, too, had made a point of waving to all sides of the arena, fuelling suggestions his three-year stint at the club could also be over. The Brazilian spent the last half-hour mucking about on the bench, squirting the coaching staff with bottles of water and frantically signalling to Courtois that Hugo Lloris had conceded at Hull to ensure the Belgian’s 16 clean sheets could not be caught. This was Chelsea demob happy. They had earned their delight.

Watford 4-3

Telegraph:

Chelsea 4 Watford 3

John Terry scores then gives goal away in eccentric win for Chelsea Seconds over Watford

Matt Law

Watford respectfully formed a guard of honour, the flames went up, the home crowd chanted “champions” and out walked Kenedy and the rest of the Chelsea reserves.

The vast majority of the champions were sat on the substitutes’ bench or in the stands for this most surreal of coronations for the Premier League title winners.

Every good party has a buffet and Diego Costa, who was among the Chelsea substitutes, made a half-time visit to the press room and briefly considered the cheese and biscuits before opting for a satsuma.

“I’m very angry with him,” joked head coach Antonio Conte. “He must think to give me a bit to share. I was suffering during the game. To eat something, that would be good.”

Chelsea do not get the trophy until after Sunday’s final League game of the season against Sunderland and Conte already has an eye on the FA Cup final against Arsenal.

“You must have a plan in your mind, in your head,” said Conte. “I think the FA Cup final, you don’t play that on Saturday. You start to play the final 10 days before. For this reason, in my head, I have a plan to try to arrive to play the final in the best condition.”

Conte’s changes did at least allow John Terry to start his Stamford Bridge goodbye, albeit with mixed results as the Chelsea captain scored and then gave a goal away in less than a minute. Terry was not the only culprit on what turned into a chaotic night, as Chelsea also surrendered a two-goal advantage in the second half before substitute Cesc Fabregas struck a late winner to condemn Watford to a fifth successive defeat.

Terry’s first League start since Sept 11 looked to be going perfectly when he gave Chelsea a 22nd-minute lead from a Willian corner.

Kurt Zouma headed the ball against Terry and the 36-year-old reacted quickest to poke it into the net for his 67th Chelsea goal and the celebrations began.

But quicker than any Chelsea fan could mutter ‘maybe we should have given him another year’, Terry gifted Watford their first goal away from Vicarage Road since January.

Terry headed what looked like a routine clearance straight into the path of Étienne Capoue, who nodded the ball over stand-in goalkeeper Asmir Begovic for the equaliser. The mistake had come just 36 seconds after the goal.

Terry was one of nine changes from the Chelsea team who defeated West Bromwich Albion to clinch the title last Friday night.

The biggest surprise was perhaps the inclusion of Brazilian Kenedy, whose only previous League appearance was for Watford in September before his loan move was cut short. Eden Hazard was one of the few first-team regulars who started and the Belgian made and squandered a great chance after Capoue had equalised.

Chelsea did not have to wait too long to regain the lead, as César Azpilicueta scored his first League goal of the season nine minutes before half-time.

Daryl Janmaat headed Hazard’s corner out to the edge of the penalty area and Azpilicueta struck a perfectly-driven shot that gave Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes no chance.

Conte buried any theories that he may have been taking things easy after the title success by celebrating Azpilicueta’s goal wildly with his staff in the home dugout.

For once, however, Conte was not the most animated coach on the touchline, as Watford’s under-pressure manager Walter Mazzarri ranted and raved his way through the game – even manhandling a member of his own staff.

Mazarri’s mood darkened considerably just four minutes after the restart, when his side conceded a third goal that should have killed the game.

Michy Batshuayi was rewarded for scoring the all-important goal at the Hawthorns with his first League start for Chelsea since signing for £33 million from Marseille and the Belgian was on target again.

Willian had seen a shot saved by Gomes and, from the resulting corner, Kenedy’s effort was deflected into the path of Nathan Aké who squared for Batshuayi to deposit the ball into the net.

That should have been the start of the procession, but Chelsea once again conceded almost immediately after they had scored. This time, a mistake from Zouma let in Janmaat, who raced into the area and danced around Aké before curling the ball into the corner of the net.

It was a sloppy goal to let in and Conte turned towards his bench in anger. The Italian’s summer shopping list may have got a little longer.

Batshuayi and Azpilicueta tested Gomes before the visitors got back on level terms with 16 minutes remaining.

Tom Cleverley’s cross was not properly dealt with by Zouma and Watford substitute Stefano Okaka, who had only been on the pitch for three minutes, took full advantage.

Conte threw on Fabregas and Pedro in search of a winner, and it was Fabregas who netted in the 88th minute to ensure the title party did not fall flat. The midfielder received the ball from Willian, struck the ball into the turf and it whistled past Gomes.

There were fireworks at the end, as Sebastian Prödl was dismissed after being shown a second yellow card, the Watford players rowed among themselves and blue streamers fell from the sky.

Conte even had a crown placed on his head by substitute Ola Aina, which Terry later wore, but the real Chelsea coronation will take place on Sunday – as long as Costa can drag himself away from the buffet.

==================================

Guardian:

John Terry makes his mark in last-gasp Chelsea win over battling Watford

Chelsea 4 - 3 Watford

Dominic Fifield

The homecoming of champions can rarely have been this thrilling. An absurdly entertaining occasion littered with smartly taken goals, bouts of cringe-worthy defending, some late snarl that left Watford depleted and bickering among themselves and a mischievous Diego Costa leaving the bench to pilfer some citrus fruit ended with Antonio Conte wearing a plastic crown on the pitch. The Italian conducted a delighted audience as the fireworks boomed and the tickertape fluttered down all around. If only every night in this arena was this giddy.

It says much about the belief driving Chelsea on that they prevailed here with a virtual second string, decorated by a few senior regulars to ensure momentum is maintained before the FA Cup final later this month. Some in their number will feel scorched by it all. John Terry may have scored his 67th goal for the club, his first in 485 days, to register for the 17th season in succession but he was understandably ring-rusty and bypassed at times by Watford’s sprightlier performers. He ended up hinting Sunday’s visit of Sunderland could mark his retirement. Kurt Zouma, too, struggled to show his true capabilities in a makeshift back line. Expecting either to hit the ground running was unrealistic.

But plenty of others excelled to provide a gentle nudge in Conte’s ribs as he considers his selection for Wembley. Willian’s display might have been plucked from last season, so impressive was he in orchestrating much of the home side’s best moments. Cesc Fàbregas, too, looks invaluable and his late burst of form was capped by a winner two minutes from time, thudded down into the turf to scuttle beyond Heurelho Gomes and into the corner of the net just as Watford were contemplating a first point since mid-April. Costa and others could put their feet up in the dugout and his evening probably peaked at the interval when he ambled into the press room to peruse the catering facilities, pick at a sandwich and eventually make off with a satsuma. “If he’d had a piece of chocolate cake, I’d have been very angry,” said the head coach. “Next time I’ll tell him to bring me a piece as well so we can share.”

Conte described the frenetic nature of the contest as “funny” though his compatriot, Walter Mazzarri, watched much of it through his fingers almost in mock horror. His days at Vicarage Road appear numbered, with this a fifth successive defeat and an eighth in 11 games, in spite of his side’s comebacks and the reality they are safe from the drop. Chelsea, even with nine changes from their lineup at The Hawthorns, scythed through the visitors too easily before plundering from set pieces. Terry exploited the first. The captain was granted his first start here since mid-September and rose, with Zouma, to Willian’s corner only for the ball to rebound down messily into the goalmouth. While Watford dawdled, the 36-year-old spun inside the six-yard box to convert off a post.

Perhaps he was still lingering in his celebrations when, 36 seconds later, Daryl Janmaat swung over an optimistic cross that Nathan Ake headed up and Terry, his radar awry, nodded up and obligingly towards Etienne Capoue. “If in doubt, get it out,” said Terry. “That’s what I should have done.” The Frenchman looped his own header over a stranded Asmir Begovic and the visitors, with their first real involvement of any note, were level. Terry’s Chelsea career, while glittering, has never been straightforward. That madcap minute rather summed it all up.

Yet César Azpilicueta, drilling a low shot across Gomes from outside the area after Eden Hazard’s corner, would re-establish the lead before the break with Michy Batshuayi, on his first Premier League start, tapping into an unguarded net after benefiting from Ake’s smart control of Kenedy’s deflected shot. That Watford recovered from that point must have encouraged Mazzarri, who suggested afterwards that he is already planning for next season, with Janmaat’s fine run and finish – exploiting Zouma’s poor touch – and the substitute Stefano Okaka, capitalising on yet more uncertainty at the heart of the hosts’ defence to thump a shot beyond Begovic, drawing the visitors briefly level.

Their evening rather unravelled thereafter, with Sebastian Prödl dismissed for a pair of late challenges and Troy Deeney rebuking Okaka, enraged by Pedro’s foul, as players squared up around the officials in stoppage time. Not that Chelsea cared. They go into Sunday’s game with Sunderland, once the tickertape has been shovelled away, hoping to secure a 30th league win of the season and already planning for Arsenal on 27 May. “You don’t start planning for the FA Cup final on the Saturday,” added Conte. “You start to plan 10 days before.” He has choices to make but, regardless, his team look unstoppable.


=====================================


Independent:

Cesc Fabregas winner keeps Chelsea celebrations on track as Watford come close to crashing the party

Chelsea 4 Watford 3: The Premier League champions were pushed to the edge by their London opponents in a seven-goal thriller at the Bridge

Jack Austin

If there was ever a sign that John Terry had given all he had to give at Chelsea, Monday night’s victory with Watford was just that, as he went from the familiar role of hero to the equally familiar role of villain and back again.

Restored to the starting line-up, he led out his side to Stamford Bridge’s newly unfurled décor celebrating their restoration as champions and was greeted by the now customary guard of honour by their guests for the evening.

Going hard early, as the leader of the party often does, Terry gave his side the lead, only to get overexcited and straight away allow Etienne Capoue to equalise.

The Blues composed themselves to bag two more goals, though, as the soiree transcended into a full-blown house party.

Stefano Okaka threatened to be the party-pooper as Watford looked like they had earned a slice of the cake, until Cesc Fabregas turned up fashionably late to keep the celebrations going deep into the night.

In their first appearance since the confirmation of their ascension to the Premier League throne on Friday night, Antonio Conte made nine changes to his side, with the FA Cup final against Arsenal a week on Saturday now at the forefront of his thinking.

However, Conte’s relentless demand of hard work, no players were truly given the night off with David Luiz, Nemanja Matic and Thibaut Courtois all involved in the pre-match warm up – despite not actually being named in the match-day 18.

Upon his first venture out into the technical area, Conte was greeted with a standing ovation from all quarters of the Bridge but the party atmosphere wasn’t immediately transferred onto the pitch as Chelsea failed to carve out anything clear-cut.

That was until the 22nd minute when Terry turned on the spot from Willian’s corner and sliced the ball past Heurelho Gomes to give Chelsea the lead and kick off the celebrations.

However, there must have been some poison in the punch as almost instantly after giving his side the lead the man whose banner reads ‘captain, leader, legend’ had his head towards the ground after gifting Watford an equaliser.

The Chelsea captain inexplicably challenged teammate Nathan Chalobah to win a looping header on the edge of his own box, only for it to be, somewhat inevitably, effortlessly intercepted by Capoue and headed past a helpless Asmir Begovic.

That sapped the good mood from the terraces as the crowd grew frustrated, as if they had just been told to turn down the music at their own party. For 12 minutes, anyway.

If Terry deserved his goal as a reward for 22 years of service, then Cesar Azpilicueta got what he deserved for his this season.

It came from another corner as the ball fell to the Spaniard on the edge of the area giving him enough time to bring it down before rifling it into the bottom corner of the net. Time to turn that music back up.

Arsene Wenger made the claim that the sides who are in Watford’s position at this stage of the season tend to “take a breather” and allow teams to roll them over. That certainly could not be said about Walter Mazzarri, who kicked every ball and at one stage grappled with his coach at the start of the second half.

He looked slightly more forlorn moments later, though, when ‘that’s why we’re champions’ was the next song on the Stamford Bridge jukebox as Michy Batshuayi, Friday night’s hero, finished into an empty net to make it 3-1.

Yet, in mirroring their lead in the first half, Chelsea conceded immediately after – although for this one there was no blame attached to Terry as Daryl Janmaat jinked and jived his way through the Blues defence to find the bottom corner with a stunning party trick of his own.

But, unlike the first half, the crowd weren’t deflated by the goal as Batshuayi’s cushion allowed them to encourage Terry to shoot whenever he gathered the ball in his own half.

It was then time for karaoke as the Shed End demanded a new song from each section of the stadium, and even invited the travelling Watford fans to get involved at one point.

Not satisfied with his first Premier League goal since January 2016, Azpilicueta twice tried to add to his tally and came close to doing so, if not for a stunning save from Gomes.

But, as Chelsea’s greatest hits kept playing on the surround sound, suddenly the plug on the stereo was pulled as Okaka, in one of his first touches since coming on as a substitute, silenced the Bridge.

It was then left to Fabregas to give the festivities a late encore with a first-time shot from 18 yards with only three minutes remaining.

There was still time for Sebastian Prodl to be ejected early with a red card by referee, and bouncer for the night, Lee Mason, with Chelsea now left needing only one more victory to set a new record for Premier League wins.


Chelsea: Begovic, Zouma, Terry, Ake, Azpilicueta, Kante, Chalobah, Kenedy, Willian, , Hazard, Batshuayi.

Substitutes: Eduardo, Aina, Alonso, Cahill, Fabregas, Pedro, Diego Costa.


Watford: Mariappa, Prodl, Holebas, Amrabat, Cleverley, Behrami, Doucoure, Janmaat, Capoue, Niang.

Substitutes: Pantilimon, Mason, Eleftheriou, Zuniga, Pereira, Okaka, Deeney.

Referee: Lee Mason

================================

Mail:

Chelsea 4-3 Watford: Cesc Fabregas' late winner ensures Premier League champions' evening of celebration ends in victory at Stamford Bridge

At Chelsea, they know what they are. Champions of England, of course.

The first clue came from the slogan emblazoned in letters 20-feet high across the back of the West Stand above the Peter Osgood statue.

Then there were the tee-shirts worn by the band playing Life on Mars near Britannia Gate.

And the scarves and flags punted by the street traders in the Fulham Road. And the banners around the stands inside the ground.

Home of the Champions, they all declared.

Chelsea are back where they feel they belong, at the pinnacle of English football and crowing about it.

For much of this game they didn't look like the champions.

At least, not the ones we have become accustomed to. Not the super-tight and beautifully balanced unit which has steamrollered all before it since the end of September.

That team would never have let Watford back into the game having led 3-1.

But this was Chelsea in celebration mode, looking more like Kevin Keegan's Newcastle than Antonio Conte's Chelsea as Stefano Okaka made it 3-3 with a quarter of an hour to go.

Still, they found a way to win and smashed the 90-point barrier when Cesc Fabregas swept in the decisive goal, two minutes from time.

It was the seventh goal of a chaotic game which threatened to spill out of control in stoppage time.

Sebastian Prodl, booked earlier for a heavy challenge on Michy Batshuayi, was sent off for a late challenge on Pedro Rodriguez.

Watford substitutes Okaka and Troy Deeney were booked for their parts in a mass scuffle.

The final whistle was accompanied by fireworks launched into the sky from the stand roofs as ticker tape streamed down onto the pitch.

And off Chelsea went on another jubilant lap of honour.

Conte had rested most of his first team and gave some his fringe players the chance to impress.

Among them John Terry, the captain making his 716th appearance for a club he joined from school and will leave next week.

'It's going to be emotional,' promised John Terry in his programme notes and he had touched both ends of the emotional spectrum before even half an hour had passed.

For starters, there was the euphoria of his goal; the opener, his 67th goal for the club and Chelsea's 100th for the season in all competitions.

Kurt Zouma climbed to reach a corner and planted a header into the back of Terry's head.

Terry was the first to react as the ball bounced, spinning and smashing it with his left foot past Heurelho Gomes.

As it flew in off a post, Terry dashed away, patting the Chelsea crest on his chest with his right hand and basking in the ovation in front of the Shed.

Within 35 seconds of the restart, his glow was muted by a defensive lapse which presented Watford with the equaliser.

Terry tried to nod a high ball back to his own goalkeeper but left it short and Etienne Capoue darted in to beat Asmir Begovic.

Again, his name was sung, this time an offering of moral support from those who adore him. It was surely appreciated.

This was never likely to be a normal game. Not from the moment Chelsea clinched the title at West Bromwich Albion on Friday night.

Conte made nine changes and was stood on the touchline clapping along to his theme-tune with less than two minutes on the clock.

It seemed most out of character but this was a delirious home-coming night; one to complete the set in an I-Spy book of Chelsea footballers with rare outings for Nathaniel Chalobah, Nathan Ake and Kenedy.

Batshuayi, goal hero of Friday at The Hawthorns, was rewarded with his Premier League start and grabbed another goal, Chelsea's third, smartly set up by Ake, early in the second half.

Cesar Azpilicueta had scored the second, his first in the league since January 2016, and it proved almost as popular as Terry's.

Another corner was partially cleared to Azpilicueta and from the edge of the penalty he fizzed a drive across the turf and into the net.

Stars on the Chelsea bench received rapturous ovations whenever they went for a jog. Diego Costa, an unused substitute, even managed to pop into the press room at half-time to nibble on some cheese and pose for photos.

Daryl Janmaat sparked the Watford fight-back, dancing all too easily through the Chelsea defence almost immediately after Batshuayi's goal.

Okaka seized on a mistake by Zouma to level with 15 minutes remaining but Watford points were not in this script.

This was Chelsea's party in front of more than 40,000 at the home of the champions.

All that was missing was the trophy. That will be presented on Sunday when they will gather to do it all again.


Chelsea (4-3-2-1): Begovic 6; Zouma 6, Terry 6.5, Ake 6; Azpilicueta 7, Kante 6.5, Chalobah 6.5 (Fabregas 78), Kenedy 5 (Aina 75, 6); Willian 7, Hazard 7.5; Batshuayi 6.5 (Pedro 84)

Subs not used: Eduardo, Cahill, Alonso, Costa

Booked: Ake, Chalobah

Goals: Terry (22), Azpilicueta (36), Batshuayi (49), Fabregas (88)

Manager: Antonio Conte 6


Watford (3-5-1-1): Gomes 6; Mariappa 6, Prodl 6, Holebas 5; Amrabat 5, Behrami 5, Doucoure 6, Cleverley 6, Janmaat 6.5; Capoue 6 (Deeney 90); Niang 5 (Okaka 71, 6)

Subs not used: Pantilimon, Zuniga, Mason, Eleftheriou, Pereira

Booked: Holebas, Amrabat, Prodl, Deeney, Okaka

Red Card: Prodl

Goals: Capoue (24), Janmaat (51), Okaka (74)

Manager: Walter Mazzarri 5

Man of the Match: Eden Hazard

Referee: Lee Mason 6

Attendance: 41,473


=======================================

Express:

Chelsea 4 - Watford 3: Fabregas saves Blues after captain Terry endures mixed night

THERE’S ALWAYS ONE bloke who is the life and soul of the party. Dominates the dance floor, tells the loudest jokes, belts it out at the karaoke.

By TONY BANKS

That is John Terry at Chelsea. This was their Stamford Bridge celebration party for winning the title last week, and the 36 year old, on his way out at the end of the season, was playing his first game since September.

Of course it all turned out to be about him. He scores one goal and 35 seconds later hands Watford’s Etienne Capoue an equaliser. Throughout his career stuff has happened around Terry, good and bad. It still does.

The fans duly celebrated as Chelsea just about won, the other goals coming from Cesar Azpilicuieta, Michy Batshuayi and Cesc Fabregas, two minutes from the end, the Hornets netting again via Darryl Janmaat and Stefano Okaka.

At the final whistle the fireworks went off, the tickertape streamers poured down from the stands, and the old anthem “Blue is the colour” rang out as Terry and the players did a lap of honour, manager Antonio Conte wearing a comedy crown.

The ‘Home of the Champions’ signs with letters 20 foot high had been draped over the outside of Stamford Bridge as the fans arrived.

There was a slight hitch as a fire alarm went off at 5.30pm and the whole ground had to be evacuated before the teams arrived, but there wasn’t much that was going to spoil the party.

Chelsea’s players had not left the Hawthorns until 12.30am on Friday night, after celebrating with beer and champagne in the dressing rooms, so maybe that explained the nine changes Conte made.

Diego Costa was waving fire extinguishers around at one point that night. Maybe it explained this defensive performance as well. One of those changes saw Terry make his first start in the Premier League since September 11.

The Chelsea captain, who will depart in the summer after 22 years at the club, said in the programme before his 716th game: “I can’t tell you how important it is to me to have the chance to celebrate my fifth title at the end of my last season as a Chelsea player.

“It’s a dream ending for me. If I could written my story as a 14 year old when I signed on the pitch this would have been it.”

“It has been a brilliant experience for me to work with such a great coach as Antonio in my final year. These will be my last two home games and it’s going to be emotional for me.”

Sunderland on Sunday will be the Terry swansong.

So relaxed was it all that Terry even interrupted his warm up to hug former manager Gianluca Vialli on the touchline. And at half time Costa nipped into the press room to sample the cheese board. Dull it wasn’t.

The Hornets gave Chelsea a guard of honour as they came out, led by Terry. You know who kicked it all off, of course. Watford failed to clear a corner and Terry reacted first to stab the ball in off the post for his 67th goal for the club.

His joy though lasted only 35 seconds. Watford went straight back up the other end and as Terry tried to nod the ball back to Asmir Begovic, he only succeeded in heading it to Capoue, who nodded in. Oops.

But no matter. Watford failed to clear another corner, the ball flew to Azpilicueta, and the Spaniard buried his drive.

Chelsea went further ahead when Nathan Ake neatly set up Batshuayi for his second goal in four days. With West Ham interested in signing him on loan, it was a moment that might well have saved the young Belgian’s Chelsea career.

Within two minutes Watford were back in it again, as Daryl Janmaat cracked a glorious shot into the top corner. And out of nowhere the Hornets were level, when Kurt Zouma failed to clear, and substitute Stefano Okaka rifled home.

There was still time for one last dancefloor pleaser though, as Willian set up Fabregas, and he rattled home Chelsea’s winner, two minutes from the end. That bloke was still standing at the end, by the way.


========================================


Mirror:

Chelsea captain, leader, legend John Terry took centre stage for his glorious farewell - but it didn't ALL go to plan

You could almost guarantee the Blues' iconic skipper would be the story and sure enough he hit the headlines at the Bridge

BY JOHN CROSS

The homecoming party for the newly crowned champions turned into a bizarre night of glorious farewells, goals, ticker tape and cheese.

You could almost guarantee that John Terry would be the story and sure enough Chelsea’s captain, leader, legend took centre stage in what could turn out to be his last appearance at Stamford Bridge.

Terry scored the opener, his mistake gifted Watford an equaliser and yet fittingly ended up on the winning side of a seven goal thriller.

Chelsea substitute Cesc Fabregas got the 88th minute winner to make sure the party went with a bang but Antonio Conte would have been mightily relieved the title was already in the bag.

It was a crazy, almost comical end-of-season game which Chelsea took so lightly that Diego Costa - one of Chelsea’s unused substitutes - snuck into the press room at half time to have a snack because he was complaining he was so hungry.

Costa looked at the luxurious cheeseboard, picked at a sandwich and eventually made off with a satsuma with bemused onlookers remembering that he was actually on the subs’ bench.

Thankfully, Chelsea did not need him but even when Costa does not play he does something utterly bizarre.

Watford ended up rowing amongst themselves after Sebastian Prodl was sent off for a second yellow card in the dying stages.

Troy Deeney was shouting at Stefano Okaka and Watford do look an utter shambles under Walter Mazzarri.

They nearly snatched a draw as twice they equalised but Chelsea were able to make nine changes, field a largely second string, gift three goals and still end up winning.

When the final whistle eventually blew, fireworks and blue and silver ticker tape was exploded all over the pitch before the Chelsea players milked all the celebrations.

No-one would have enjoyed it more than Terry who is leaving the club at the end of the season and went out on a high.

Not even Terry at his very best could have marshalled a much-changed Chelsea defence who looked as if they had just been introduced to each other ten minutes before kick-off.

But Terry, even at 36, is still a competitor despite not being the defender he once was. You just knew that Terry would score and he got the game underway after 22 minutes.

Willian’s corner was headed by Kurt Zouma, the ball fell to Terry and the former England captain hooked the ball into the net off the post. It was Terry’s first goal in 485 days.

What a start. But Terry’s wild celebrations lasted all of 36 seconds. Watford went up the other end, Terry got into a muddle with Nathan Ake and Etienne Capoue’s looping header beat Chelsea stand-in keeper Asmir Begovic.

Normal service looked to be resumed when Cesar Azpilicueta rifled in a low shot from the edge of the box after Watford failed to clear Eden Hazard’s 36th minute corner.

Then Chelsea looked to be in cruise control four minutes after the restart. Hazard found Kennedy, his shot was charged down and Ake set up Michy Batshuayi who fired home.

It was Batshuayi’s winner at West Brom on Friday night which clinched the title. This was nowhere near as important but it does prove he can score goals for Chelsea and may yet have a future despite his disappointing season.

But Watford got themselves back into the game two minutes later. It was sixes and sevens again in Chelsea’s defence, Zouma’s slip let in Daryl Janmaat who went on a mazy run, Ake stood off and the Dutchman curled a shot into the far corner.

Bearing in mind Watford had not scored an away goal since January before last night, their luck was surely used up.

But Okaka equalised again after Zouma failed to deal with Tom Cleverley’s cross and the Watford substitute fired home.

But just when it looked as if Chelsea’s homecoming would end in a disappointing draw, up popped Fabregas.

It was fitting for him to be the hero as he has played such a key role in the past few weeks, this time sweeping home Willian’s pass.

Chelsea deserved it and they put on a show to really mark their glorious title triumph.



================================


Sun:

HAD TO BE HIM Chelsea 4 Watford 3

Skipper John Terry scores and then produces defensive howler as Cesc Fabregas scores late winner

Cesar Azpilicueta, Michy Batshuayi, Etienne Capoue and Daryl Janmaat were all on the score-sheet

By Andrew Dillon and Richard Forrester

CHELSEA skipper John Terry scored in his 17th consecutive season before producing a defensive error just 35 seconds later to hand Watford an equaliser.

Cesar Azpilicueta and Michy Batshuayi then gave the champions a two-goal advantage before Daryl Janmaat brought the Hornets back into the game.

Italian super-sub striker Stefano Okaka then threatened to spoil the title-winning party when he lashed home from close range with 15 minutes remaining to level the match.

Keep up to date with ALL the football news, gossip, transfers and goals on our page plus fixtures, results and live match commentary.

But Cesc Fabregas had the final say late on to lash home Chelsea's fourth of the night.

In Terry's first league start since September, the veteran bagged his 67th Chelsea goal and most likely his last when he latched onto a loose ball following a corner.

But less than a minute after kick-off, Terry's header back to Asmir Begovic fell short to Etienne Capoue who was left with a simple finish to draw the visitors level.

Watford were level for just 12 minutes when Azpilicueta grabbed his first of the season with a powerful effort from the edge of the box.

And moments after the half-time whistle Batshuayi grabbed his second in two matches after Nathan Ake teed him up for the easiest of finishes.

But the drama didn't end there as two minutes later Janmaat coasted into the Chelsea box before skipping past Ake and sliding the ball into the far corner.

Chelsea piled on the pressure searching for a fourth but Heurelho Gomes produced a number of wonderful saves to keep Watford in the contest.

And out of the blue Okaka pounced three minutes after coming on to silence the Bridge before Fabregas found space late on to drill the ball home.

Watford's misery was compounded in stoppage time as Sebastian Prodl was sent off for two yellow cards.


EMBARRASSED Chelsea had to form a guard of honour for champions Leicester last season. They were on the receiving end as Watford paid tribute to them as new champions before kick off.
Weird atmosphere though as with nine changes to the line up from Friday’s title-winning side it was only Eden Hazard and Cesar Azpilicueta on parade.
BOSS Antonio Conte had a new suit on after his was wrecked by a dousing of champagne and water in the celebrations after the decisive win at West Brom.
WATFORD boss Walter Mazzarri also made changes - leaving team captain Troy Deeney on the bench.
Captain John Terry was restored to the first team and put a scratch Chelsea side ahead in the 24th minute from a Willian corner.
But the lead lasted just two minutes as he then headed the ball straight into the path of Etienne Capoue to equalise.
Mazzarri was clearly trying to outdo Conte’s trademark gesturing and flapping in the dugout as it became a dad dance off between the two animated Italians.
Cesar Azpilicueta puts Chelsea back in front with a clinical finish from the edge of the box through a crowd of players.
Capoue’s equaliser was Watford’s first goal in more than ten hours of football.
Daryl Janmaat, Stefano Okaka and Cesc Fabregas were still to find the back of the net
Terry, who leaves on Monday, told Chelsea fans that he is ‘the lucky one’ having spent his entire career at the club and with five Premier League titles.

================================

Star:

Chelsea 4 Watford 3: John Terry hero and villain in Stamford Bridge thriller

JOHN TERRY has had an amazing career of highs and lows - last night he experienced both in less than two minutes.

By David Woods

John Terry scored the first goal but was at fault for Watford's equaliser immediately after

On his 716th appearance for Chelsea - and probably his second to last - skipper Terry scored in the 22nd minute then gifted Watford an equaliser in the 24th.

“If I could have written my story as a 14-year-old, when I signed on the pitch, this would have been it,” he wrote in his programme notes.

You suspect he might have edited out what happened in the 24th minute.

After their title win at West Brom on Friday, this largely meaningless game was always going to be the start of the farewell party for Terry as well as a celebration of their success.

At 36, he has been a bit-part player for boss Antonio Conte this season but with little on this match he was restored to the starting line-up for only his fifth league start of the season.

It was no less than he deserved, having bagged a fifth league title with Chelsea only four days earlier.

The good part for JT came following a Willian corner, which was swung over from the right.

Kurt Zouma won it in the air and headed it straight into the back of Terry’s head.

As it rolled down and dropped, the Chelsea No. 26 found the ball at that trusty left foot of his and he sent the ball into the net via a post.

Conte, who had done a mime of a header as the corner came over, was thrilled, but not as much as Terry.

But just two minutes later that joy turned to despair for former England skipper Terry.

As he went to try to clear with a header, Terry appeared to be distracted by Nathan Chalobah near to him and looped his effort up into the air and back towards his own goal.

It fell to the running-in Etienne Capoue, who was left with a simple header over Asmir Begovic.

Terry looked distraught as such a howler, probably one of the worse of his long and success-laden career.

The scenes before kick-off must have sparked a few memories for Terry and Co of about a year ago as Watford gave the Blues a Guard of Honour as they came out onto the pitch.

Because that is what Chelsea had to do for Leicester at The Bridge last season, after the underdogs took their crown from them.

But the game was about the present and not the past and the Blues were back in front in the 36th minute from another corner, this time from Eden Hazard.

It was deflected to him on the edge of the box and Cesar Azpicueta - one of only three to start last night who were also in the XI at West Brom - drilled in superbly with his right foot for his first league goal since January 2016.

Willian almost extended the lead with a shot from a tight angle in the 48th minute, Heurehlo Gomes tipped round superbly for a corner.

A minute later they did when Kenedy’s deflected shot found David Luiz springing the offside attempt by the Hornets and he squared for Michy Batshuayi to tap in.

Scoring the goal to land the Blues the title obviously has been good for the young Belgium striker.

But in the 50th minute Watford were back in it, with a superb individual goal.

Daryl Janmaat cut in toward the Chelsea goal from the right and totally deceived Nathan Ake before bending in at the far post with a left-foot curler which had a touch of the Lionel Messi about it.

The goal must have pleased boss Walter Mazzarri, whose job looks in threat following a run of five defeats in six games up until last night, with just one goal scored, and persistent rumours of his players turning against him.



===================================

West Bromwich Albion 1-0

Guardian:

Chelsea win Premier League title again as Michy Batshuayi sinks West Brom

West Brom 0 - 1 Chelsea

Daniel Taylor at The Hawthorns

When the decisive moment arrived there were a few seconds when Antonio Conte gave the impression he might actually run all the away from the touchline to join in the victory scrum. Chelsea’s manager made it half a dozen yards on to the pitch before checking back but he did not have to wait too long before he could be with his players and his first season in the Premier League was assured of a happy ending.

For Chelsea, it was the moment that confirmed their fifth title in the last 12 years and the only downside of a glorious night for the new champions was the fighting that broke out in the home stands after the substitute Michy Batshuayi had delivered the telling blow. Chelsea have played a lot better at times this season but there can be no doubt they have been the best team in the country.

It has never been a bad trait for a team at the top of the league to win without being at their best and Tottenham Hotspur know now that their last game at White Hart Lane – at least as we know it – when Manchester United head south on Sunday will be for nostalgia rather than trying to keep up the chase. Football is a cruel game sometimes. “Tottenham Hotspur, we’re laughing at you,” was the new addition to the Chelsea songbook.

It finished with Conte getting the bumps in front of the Chelsea fans who had packed into the Smethwick End hoping The Hawthorns might finally bring them some joy. Two of Chelsea’s recent managers, André Villas-Boas and Roberto Di Matteo, lost their jobs after jarring defeats at this ground. That, however, felt like a long time ago as the away end went through their victory songs, David Luiz showed off his samba and the triumphant players decided it was time to start throwing John Terry in the air. Even Frank Lampard joined in the celebrations at one stage, leaving the touchline and his television role to embrace some of his old team-mates.

Ultimately, it will not matter that Chelsea put in a stodgy performance or that Pedro and Eden Hazard faded so badly they were substituted. Those were just minor details after that moment, 82 minutes in, when Chelsea pressed forward for the goal that would mean so much. César Azpilicueta provided the pass. Batshuayi prodded his shot past Ben Foster and those were the moments when all that pent-up emotion could be released. Leicester City’s time is over but the ribbons on the championship trophy will still be blue and Chelsea will look forward to being reunited with it when they play Sunderland at Stamford Bridge next weekend.

It took a while to conjure up the decisive goal but every team that finish in Chelsea’s position need a resilient streak. Chelsea came up against obdurate opponents and it was difficult to remember at times that West Brom have been in the worst form of any Premier League side since the beginning of April, taking only two points from seven games and having previously set an unwanted club record of failing to score five times in a row.

The oddity of Tony Pulis’s managerial career is that he is known for his motivational powers yet West Brom, like Stoke before them, have a habit of tailing off once they know they are safe. In total, Pulis has won only six out of 45 games after reaching 40 points. This was West Brom’s fourth 1-0 defeat in five games, although in fairness nobody could accuse them of playing without desire. Pulis’s team caused grievous damage to Tottenham’s title hopes with a draw at White Hart Lane last season and they looked determined to show they could influence this title race, too.

There were also times when Chelsea, perhaps in their desperation to make the breakthrough, looked unusually ragged at the back. Salomón Rondón and the substitute Nacer Chadli had chances to punish them in the second half and in those moments it was unusual to see Conte’s team so vulnerable to the counterattack.

For most of the night, however, Chelsea were on top without being able to find a way through a team that spent parts of the game with a defensive line of six players. Conte’s men began like a team in a hurry. Cesc Fàbregas showed again he is an elegant replacement for N’Golo Kanté. Hazard and Pedro flitted around dangerously while Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso demonstrated why they have become such important players.

At various times this season Chelsea have been depicted as a counterattacking team – defence-orientated, if you listen to José Mourinho – but they can actually adapt their game in many ways and this was one of the occasions when they tried to overwhelm their opponents. Their problem was finding the killer pass. Foster is a difficult goalkeeper to beat and, though it was quickly forgotten by the end, the shot from Hazard that went out for a throw-in midway through the second half might well have been his least distinguished moment of the season.

Perhaps Chelsea had also allowed a bit of apprehension to creep in, too. Passes were rushed, shots snatched. For all their possession, the goal was really the only moment of the night when they created a clear opportunity inside the penalty area. But then the ball was at Batshuayi’s feet, Conte’s fists were raised and it was an explosion of joy behind the goal.


===============================

Telegraph:

West Brom 0 Chelsea 1: Michy Batshuayi gives Antonio Conte the title in debut Premier League season

There are hundreds of small steps to become Premier League champions but it can so often be the final one that is among the hardest to take, and so it proved for Chelsea who found a hero at the last in their bit-part £33 million striker Michy Batshuayi, a match-winner and now a title-clincher.

This was a long way from the best Chelsea performance of the season but they found a way and with a winner from Batshuayi, a substitute, nine minutes from time after a long, hard battle they showed that they have the capability to win on all occasions. They were made to fight every last step of the way by West Bromwich Albion, as if to make the point to Antonio Conte that he is right when he says that no game in England’s top-flight can be taken for granted.

When the goal went in the Italian leapt into the arms of his staff, and his transformation of Chelsea from the champions that melted under the pressure last season to the champions again this time has been remarkable. That they won against West Brom when it looked like the title race could stumble on to the 37th game against Watford at Stamford Bridge on Monday, was testament to the cussedness of Conte’s team.

Good footballers, and good managers, never tire of that winning feeling and there was no restraint in the celebrations in front of their travelling fans after the final whistle. The Chelsea players and staff threw Conte up into the air, and then they did the same for John Terry and all this barely 18 months since Jose Mourinho had accused much of this squad of betraying their then manager.

From tenth place they have risen again, with some useful additions but essentially a successful reboot of Mourinho’s Chelsea of 2014-2015. They have been finely machined into shape by their exacting Italian coach who can now complete the league and FA Cup double in his first season, and has carried his team along with that restlessness that never permitted his players to slack.  


Conte made another brave call with 15 minutes of the match remaining and West Brom holding his team out – in this case, he substituted Eden Hazard. Chelsea’s No 10 might be the most talented attacking talent in the Premier League but he does have bad days too and this was one of them. Although substituting him is not a decision any manager takes lightly.

The original plan would surely have been to take the lead and bring on N’Gole Kante who was on the bench, still recovering from injury, and in the end did not play a part in this last step to securing his second consecutive league title with two different clubs. In those last 15 minutes, Conte instead turned to Batshuayi who has not scored a league goal since his solitary previous strike this season against Watford in August.

Since then he had managed just four, two apiece in the EFL Cup and FA Cup, before this momentous night at the Hawthorns when he got the decisive touch on a cross from Cesar Azpilicueta to put the ball past Ben Foster. If there had been one criticism of Chelsea’s summer transfer dealing then it might have been their over-valuation of Batshuayi but this was a moment when one could even make a case for that £33 million fee.

With Chelsea fans all over the ground to watch their team clinch the sixth league title in their history, a fight broke out in the Birmingham Road end of the Hawthorns with a few minutes remaining and the game was held up as what seemed like away fans came onto the pitch. Even then, Pulis’ team did their very best to come back into a game in which they had yielded nothing to the new champions.

The casual observer might have thought, by the way in which the home team performed, that there was more at stake for Pulis’ team than just their comfortable top ten finish. In fact West Brom have been in eighth place since New Year’s Eve and although they are a long way from the most daunting opponent they are among the most awkward.

By the end of the game, before Batshuayi scored, West Brom’s back line numbered six players, and even so they had some chances of their own in the second half as Chelsea became more desperate for the breakthrough. Salomon Rondon did a fine job chasing whatever West Brom’s midfield could get through to him although it was mostly a case of Chelsea trying to pick their way through or around the ten men the home team had behind the ball


Although West Brom have long been safe, this was the kind of performance that demonstrates their manager’s will better than any other. His management style, and the sort of clubs he manages, means that he has to wage a perpetual war on complacency and where better to show that spirit than in a game that means little to West Brom, but everything to their opponents?

Chelsea seemed to come out to try to kill off their opposition at the start of the second half, but this was one vampire that kept climbing back out the coffin. With 20 minutes remaining and a considerable urgency gripping the league leaders, Pulis had reverted to that back six.

Hazard was having one of those games where nothing quite went right and the defenders anticipate every one of his twists and turns and bursts of speed. One of his shots from the left side was so badly miscued that it went out for a throw-in rather than a goal-kick and he was called to the bench with 15 minutes of the game left.

There was pressure on Michael Oliver, the referee, from a home crowd who seemed to disagree with just about every foul given against their team. Over and again West Brom dug in and every minute that ticked by they warmed a little more to the task, in fact they even created some chances of their own.

Rondon showed quite a turn of pace and nimbleness of foot to get away from David Luiz and run on goal, even if he was caught eventually by Gary Cahill. Pulis had brought on Claudio Yacob, an experienced old midfield bruiser in place of young Sam Field, to stiffen an already fairly rigid midfield. There was another chance for West Brom on 72 minutes when another substitute, Nacer Chadli, got onto Rondon’s ball and struck his shot wide.

Then came the goal from the most unlikely of sources, and all the doubt that this would be Chelsea’s night lifted from the team. They saw out the game with the usual hard-headedness that we have come to expect of this side and they have more than two weeks now to prepare for that FA Cup final on May 27 while Arsenal must fight for fourth place. It seems like everything has fallen their way this season, but it has taken some character to grasp the opportunity when it has come.



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Independent:


Chelsea beat West Brom to win the Premier League title in Antonio Conte's debut season at the club

West Brom 0 Chelsea 1: Michy Batshuayi scored the goal that won Chelsea the title

Miguel Delaney

After a season that has so often seen Antonio Conte turn negatives into positives, and been a victory for pure coaching, the title itself was so fittingly won by one more moment of inspiration; one more brave decision.

Michu Batshuayi has barely got a look-in for Chelsea this season, and the manager has often expressed frustration in his development, but it was Conte’s faith in the 23-year-old that ended his side’s frustration at the Hawthorns and ensured the Belgian will be front of centre of every image of celebration.

The Italian took a gamble by bringing on Batshuayi in the 76th minute of what had been an immensely trying 0-0 draw with West Brom, and the striker then took the gamble of a run to score. His effort won the game, and won the title.

It is the sixth of Chelsea’s history, the fourth of Conte’s career, and his first in England in what was his debut season.

The wonder was whether West Brom were going to be mere witnesses to a procession, or proper participants in a battle that was going to make Chelsea have to do that bit more to earn this title.

That was because, since claiming 40 points on 25 February, their record from the next nine games read: five points, six defeats, seven games where they failed to score… but with four of those points and three of those goals coming in two games against Arsenal and Manchester United.

The big sides still get a big response out of Tony Pulis sides, regardless of what stage of the season it is.

That was signalled as early as the opening minute of the game, when Salomon Rondon finished off a sweeping attack with thrusting header. There was similar aggression and energy to every West Brom challenge, leaving many Chelsea players - and especially Eden Hazard - on their back on the rain-sodden pitch. Sam Field was soon booked for one scything tackle from behind on Pedro, that left the winger in a heap, and the young West Brom lad somewhat brazenly protesting his innocence.

Chelsea were indeed being made to work, and fight, and really eke out their chances.

The West Brom supporters did ironically celebrate when a decision went their way on 40 minutes, but they might well have been fortunate that referee Michael Oliver didn’t point to the spot when the ball appeared to strike Chris Brunt’s arm earlier in the game.

They weren’t fortunate to be level, though, given they had so limited to Chelsea to scrapping for chances and long shots.

The spectacularly-on-form Cesc Fabregas was naturally finding space where others couldn’t, and flashed one 33rd-minute effort wide. It was the closest they’d come in the first half.

Victor Moses went even closer at the start of the second half, bringing a fine low save from Ben Foster as he tried another shot from distance. It did look like it was going to take something inspired, or bit different, to break West Brom down - put David Luiz’s attempted bicycle kick from the resulting corner was probably a bit too different.

It looked like Eden Hazard had finally got behind the defence on 52 minutes, but he delayed his shot when forced wide, and West Brom just about managed to scramble the ball away.

That chance inevitably came from an inspired Fabregas floated ball, and he was the Chelsea player most probing, most likely to produce something that opened West Brom.

It said a lot for how much West Brom were frustrating Conte’s side that when Diego Costa got the ball in the box on the hour, and looked set to turn, he rather easily went down. That was how difficult Pulis’s well-drilled defence were making it.

They were not going to willingly be anyone’s patsy.

Conte realised something big needed to change, so made a big decision: he took off Chelsea’s most vibrant attacking player this season, removing Hazard for Willian, and introduced Batshuayi for Pedro.

It had a big effect, an inspired effect.

On 84 minutes, just when West Brom seemed to be getting comfortable in their ability to keep Chelsea out, Batshuayi finally stood out.

Cesar Azpilicueta got behind the backline to square, and the young Belgian got the goal that he and his club had been waiting for.


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Mail:

West Brom 0-1 Chelsea: Michy Batshuayi comes off the bench to sneak home late winner and ensure the Blues are Premier League champions

By Martin Samuel for the Daily Mail

Michy Batshuayi has not scored many goals in the league this season, but 50 per cent of the ones he has scored have won Chelsea the title.

If you’re going to go, go big — and Batshuayi went big in the 82nd minute here. Just at the point when it looked as if we would all have to reconvene at Stamford Bridge on Monday, he arrived in West Brom’s six-yard box to ensure the title race is concluded with more than a week to spare.

That is no small achievement in the season that brought Pep Guardiola to the Premier League, Jose Mourinho to Manchester United, and saw Tottenham older, more experienced and ready to improve on last season’s attempt to chase down Leicester.

That Mauricio Pochettino’s team came up short again is due, in no little part, to the traits we saw in Chelsea on Friday night. Resilience, determination, organisation and some of the finest passing and most fleet-footed forward play in the league.

Chelsea are worthy champions, Antonio Conte a worthy winner of the Premier League in his first season as coach. Impressively, he has solved Chelsea’s perennial problems: how to move on from John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic; how to rebuild team spirit after a calamitous campaign a year ago.  

He has made a solid citizen of David Luiz, dealt skilfully with high-maintenance stars such as Diego Costa and Eden Hazard, turned Victor Moses into a right wing back and unleashed Cesc Fabregas just at the right time, his radar helping close out the season.

Indeed, right until the last, Conte got it right. At £33million from Marseille, Batshuayi has been one of the transfer flops of the season. Yet, with nothing working, and West Brom growing stronger — Nacer Chadli almost gave them the lead late in the game — Conte was not scared to introduce him as a late substitute, or withdraw Hazard, who had run himself into the ground, even in defensive service.

And the title was his reward. If you’re going to score your first in the league since August 20 against Watford, it might as well win the league. With the game heading for a draw, Hazard off and West Brom at last exerting pressure, there was a degree of tension as we entered the final straight. Well, as much tension as there can be when a team needs one win and still has Watford and Sunderland to play at home.

Enter Batshuayi. He took advantage of the defensive reorganisation caused by the withdrawal of Gareth McAuley, after West Brom had failed to deal with a sliced shot that went into no-man’s land. Chelsea recycled it, Cesar Azpilicueta crossed and Batshuayi slid in to poke the ball past Ben Foster.

Cue lunatic celebrations. Cue much sliding in all corners of the pitch. Batshuayi went first, again, down by the corner flag. So did Luiz into the arms of Azpilicueta. On the bench Conte leapt on to his staff with such abandon he may have suffered a cut lip.

This was Chelsea, showing the drive that has got them where they are this season. This was Conte, passion overflowing, showing how a first season in English football can be done. Batshuayi’s signing may have been a rare error, but who will remember that now?

When the final whistle blew, Conte went round his team, jumping at them in the style of one of those impassioned meetings on railway platforms. Arms and legs wrapped around, catch me. The players responded by giving him the bumps. Then John Terry.

Yet, digressing slightly, now the dust has settled, do you know for whom this game looked very bad news? Pep Guardiola. West Brom must visit Manchester City on Tuesday with Guardiola still not certain of a place in the Champions League next season, and as Tony Pulis’s players demonstrated, they take pride in their end of season cussedness.

It would have been easy for them to coast here, easy to let Chelsea take the expected three points and the title with scant resistance.

Albion have little to play for, after all. They are a very credible eighth but, in reality, top of the bottom. They defended as if their existence depen-ded on it, almost scored after 23 seconds through Salomon Rondon and looked just the sort of team that would delight in frustrating Manchester City.

The reason Chelsea have won a fifth Premier League title, was on show even in moments of greatest frustration. It was all there. The exquisite passing and vision of Fabregas; the delightful touch and poise of Hazard; fine saves when needed by Thibaut Courtois, including one in a part of the game when many contemporaries may have been taken by surprise; a great saving tackle by Luiz; the width; the counter-attacking; the speed of recovery.

All that was missing was player of the season, N’Golo Kante, still recovering from injury and on the bench, and striker Diego Costa, who was present in name only for much of the game. He was the one disappointment.

Yet he has been magnificent on other occasions, and any player can have an off night. His team-mates made up for it. Intense, eager, willing to get the job done at the first opportunity.

Chelsea’s biggest problem was accuracy. They had plenty of shots, but few that challenged Ben Foster. Most of the chances were crafted by the boot of Fabregas. Had the forwards found their range it could have been done much earlier but West Brom, whose draw at Tottenham proved so decisive last season, are nothing if not awkward.

Physical, too. James McClean was lucky his night did not end prematurely having received a yellow card for taking out Moses after 20 minutes. He did it again soon after and was fortunate Michael Oliver decided to be lenient. The home fans moaned anyway, but they didn’t have a case. The best team won, the match and — more importantly — the league.


WEST BROM (4-1-4-1): Foster 6; Dawson 6.5, McAuley 7 (Wilson 64, 6), Evans 6.5, Nyom 6, Fletcher 6.5, Brunt 7, Livermore 6, Field 6 (Yacob 51, 6), McClean 6 (Chadli 59, 5), Rondon 6.5

Subs not used: Robson-Kanu, Morrison, Wilson, Myhill, Leko

Booked: McClean, Wilson, Field

Manager: Tony Pulis 6


CHELSEA (3-4-2-1): Courtois 6.5; Azpilicueta 6.5, David Luiz 7, Cahill 6.5, Moses 6 (Zouma 86, 5), Fabregas 6.5, Matic 6.5, Alonso 6, Pedro 5 (Batshuayi, 76, 7.5), Hazard 5.5 (Willian 75, 5) Diego Costa 5

Subs not used: Begovic, Ake, Kante, Terry

Goal: Batshuayi 81

Manager: Antonio Conte 7.5


Referee: Michael Oliver

Attendance: 25,367

Player ratings by Matt Barlow


========================

Middlesbrough 3-0

Guardian:

Chelsea stroll to within a game’s reach of title and send Middlesbrough down

Chelsea 3 - 0 Middlesbrough

Daniel Taylor at Stamford Bridge

It was a rare to have a night when two teams had such contrasting stories at the final whistle. For Chelsea, the mathematics are simple now and surely nobody can think those celebrations at the end, with Antonio Conte on the pitch to embrace each of his players, were premature. His side will be champions with one more win and they looked absolutely determined to play in that manner against a Middlesbrough team that quietly drops into the Championship, relegated after only one season back in the top division.

If everything goes according to plan, Chelsea can wrap things up when they play at West Bromwich Albion on Friday. Alternatively, it could possibly stretch to their next home game against Watford the following Monday – if, that is, Tottenham Hotspur can beat Manchester United the previous day. All that is certain, for now, is that Chelsea have a seven-point lead with three games to go and their supporters can probably be forgiven for going through their victory songs. “Tottenham Hotspur, it’s happened again,” was one late chorus from the Matthew Harding Stand.

They can afford to gloat because the chances of Conte’s side unravelling from this position are somewhere between minimal and non-existent. They will be deserving champions and their latest victory was typical of the high-energy domination that has brought them to this happiness. Chelsea did not have a single period of the match when they lost control. They won with something to spare and, if anything, it was a surprise they did not treat themselves to even more goals.

Middlesbrough, meanwhile, looked what they are: a team that has drifted aimlessly towards relegation, with 26 goals from 36 games. This was the 17th time this season they have failed to score in the league. They have not won at Stamford Bridge since Jack Charlton was manager in 1975 and that 42-year run was never likely to be threatened bearing in mind they have not beaten a single side from the top half of the league all season. Middlesbrough’s solitary away win came at Sunderland in August and they were obliging opponents for a team with Chelsea’s haughty ambitions.

The champions-elect certainly did not miss N’Golo Kanté, absent with a thigh injury on the day he was name the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year to go with the award he has already received from the Professional Footballers’ Association. Cesc Fàbregas fitted seamlessly into midfield, passing the ball with wonderful elegance, setting up two of the goals and delivering a man-of-the-match performance. On this evidence, Kanté deserves the season’s individual honours if he has kept this man out of the side.

It was a night when Diego Costa, with the opening goal, scored for the 20th time in the league this season, equalling his best-ever total for Chelsea. Eden Hazard shimmered with menace. Marcos Alonso and Pedro skimmed shots against the crossbar and Chelsea now have 84 points, three more than Leicester managed when they won the league last year and, incredibly, 36 higher than the team from Stamford Bridge had managed at the corresponding stage last season. Even at 3-0, Conte was still stalking the touchline, screaming orders and reminding us that the Italians are masters of the hand gesture. His team have won 15 out of their 17 home league games and they have a manager who simply refuses to allow complacency to creep in.

More than anything, Chelsea looked as though they were enjoying themselves. They played like a side in a hurry and it was from their first meaningful attack, after barely 70 seconds, that Alonso’s shot ricocheted off Brad Guzan, the Middlesbrough goalkeeper, to flash against the woodwork. The tone had been set and from that moment it was near-unremitting pressure on the visitors’ goal.

Guzan had a difficult night but, in fairness, he was not alone when it came to Steve Agnew’s players. Fábio da Silva, Middlesbrough’s Brazilian right-back, had let Alonso run past him for the second goal and the same defender was also partly to blame when Costa opened the scoring 11 minutes earlier. Fàbregas had clipped the ball into the penalty area and Fábio, stretching, inadvertently turned it into Costa’s path, leaving the striker with the chance to slide his shot through Guzan’s legs.

By that stage Alonso had flashing a shot across the goalmouth with his second attempt of the first half. His next effort was also going wide but Guzan had come off his goal-line. The ball struck the inside of the goalkeeper’s leg and flew into the net.

The rest of the night for Middlesbrough was an exercise in damage limitation but it would be harsh to say they demonstrated why they had won only once in their previous 18 league games since Christmas. The truth is not many sides could cope when Chelsea are playing with this drive and motivation, when Fàbregas is passing the ball with such distinction and every single player in blue is playing at the point of maximum expression.

They began the second half exactly where they had left off: looking for more goals. There was only one more, however, and it arrived in the 65th minute. Fàbregas, again, played the decisive pass. Nemanja Matic controlled the ball on his chest, spun away from the nearest defender and lashed in a right-foot shot. Chelsea had played like champions and Conte was off on another of his victory runs.



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Telegraph:

Chelsea 3 Middlesbrough 0: Champions-elect outclass and relegate Steve Agnew's side

Jason Burt

Chelsea do not just have one hand on the Premier League trophy but those blue ribbons are being tied and the engraver has sharpened his tool ready for the calligraphy.

It is over. Three more points from the three final league games is all it will (mathematically) take and they will hope and expect to collect them away to West Bromwich Albion this Friday.

They can bag it against the Baggies and it will be a richly deserved title, a fourth in 12 years and only a fifth in the club’s 112-year history.

Before the victory parade came the procession and a carnival atmosphere with John Terry even afforded a run-out, on as a late substitute for the superb David Luiz, for his 715th appearance, and to a standing ovation in what is his last season.

Chelsea were utterly dominant. The score-line could have been multiplied as Middlesbrough provided no barrier. They were swept aside by the excellence of Antonio Conte’s side, orchestrated by the outstanding Cesc Fabregas, and, with it, their relegation back to the Championship, after just one season in the top-flight, was inevitably and sadly confirmed in front of their raucously defiant fans.

At the end Conte applauded them also having turned and accepted the constant chanting of his name from the home supporters. It will be a remarkable achievement by the Italian in his first season in English football – he did not even speak the language a year ago – and he has lifted Chelsea on and off the pitch from 10th place to champions, or almost-champions, again. They already have 34 more points than last season. Hopefully Conte will now remain despite the continued interest from Inter Milan, to build, to defend this title and to go for it in the Champions League. That is the expectation.

But then there was a general air of expectancy at Stamford Bridge. Roman Abramovich was in attendance as was Carlo Ancelotti, the last Chelsea manager – and the first Italian – to win the league and who also completed a double with the FA Cup, a feat Conte, his friend - the pair worked together at Juventus when the latter was captain - can match this season.

There was never any doubt that Chelsea would win this. It was only ever a question of how many goals they would score and this was a performance with a title-winning swagger. The absence of N’Golo Kante, with a slight muscle injury, on the day that he was chosen as the Football Writers’ Association’s Footballer of the Year, allowed Fabregas to take centre stage and he accepted the invitation.

The midfielder created numerous chances and was involved in all three goals as he became the first player to claim 10 or more assists in the Premier League in six campaigns. Chelsea hit another milestone – a 300th Premier League home win, a total only surpassed by Manchester United (347) and Arsenal (306).

There was a relentlessness in which they preyed on Middlesbrough’s vulnerability and that again is the mark of champions. With Adama Traore and Fabio Da Silva down the visitors right Conte sensed the lack of discipline and attacked it. Inevitably it was where the first goal came from but there were chances before that with Marcos Alonso’s volley ricocheting up onto the cross-bar off goalkeeper Brad Guzan’s outstretched hand with just 71 seconds played.

That it took another 22 minutes for Chelsea to score was the only surprise with Middlesbrough unable to get close to their opponents with Fabregas, under no pressure, floating a cross into the penalty area. Fabio, at full stretch, got a touch but was unable to cut it out and Diego Costa simply cushioned the ball before poking it through Guzan’s legs for his 20th league goal in what is also expected to be his last season at the club before he moves to China.

Middlesbrough did not park the bus. In fact they even struggled to park the team coach, arriving late after a minor prang involving a car in the roads outside the stadium. But on the pitch they had to go for it. A point would only delay the inevitable. They needed to win and pledged to play “front-foot” football even if they ended up constantly rocked back on their heels.


================================


Independent:

Chelsea relegate Middlesbrough with a win of purring confidence that continues their canter towards the title

Chelsea 3 Middlesbrough 0

Goals from Diego Costa, Marcos Alonso and Nemanja Matic mean Chelsea can mathematically secure the title against West Brom on Friday night

Miguel Delaney

We haven’t yet had the confirmation, but this already felt like a celebration. A 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge means Chelsea go to West Brom on Friday knowing a win will mathematically secure the 2016-17 Premier League title, while Middlesbrough go back down to the Championship, this result having made their relegation mathematically certain.

The reality was that both sides played as if they already knew both prospects were mere formalities before the game, Chelsea and especially the supreme Cesc Fabregas with a purring confidence, Middlesbrough with the kind of relaxed openness that comes when you know your fate is sealed.

It set up an enjoyably open game, too, and one that had the joyful optimism of a carnival for the Stamford Bridge support.

Antonio Conte of course moved frantically around the touchline as if it was all on a knife-edge, and celebrated each goal as if they were last-minute winners, displaying the type of demanding management that meant Chelsea are on the brink of this title. He needn’t have worried this time. In front of him, his team were in total command, just as they have been in the title race since October.

Chelsea were clearly intent on putting on a show, a performance worthy of champions, making it much less important that PFA and FWA player of the year N’Golo Kante was out with a thigh problem.

Conte evidently didn’t intend on doing much defending either. His side went at Middlesbrough with a resounding attacking vigour and intensity probably not truly seen since the start of their 13-match winning run back in October.

And they really applied that vigour down the left, where Fabio and Adama Traore weren’t exactly offering the most stable defensive cover. It gave Hazard an awful lot of space, but also meant that Marcos Alonso could concentrate on his own attacking rather than defending.

He enjoyed it so much that he offered what might have been his best performance of the season, further and fittingly emphasising how the transformation of so many players has been so key to their impending title victory.

It was the Spanish wing-back that set the tone after just two minutes with a searing run, forcing Brad Guzan to supremely get a touch that just about got the ball bouncing up and onto the bar. Chelsea were soon pummelling Middlesbrough, and it was no surprise that they soon had the lead, nor was the identity of the scorer.

Diego Costa has his touch back, and on 23 minutes scored a goal so similar to the type of finish he was offering in that winning run, slotting the ball between the legs of Guzan after Fabio had failed to deal with a clipped Cesc Fabregas.

Back in the centre without Kante, the Spanish playmaker was running the game, and Chelsea were soon threatening to run riot. They had their second 11 minutes later, Alonso getting one of the most deserved goals of the season, as luck began to desert Middlesbrough in even more pronounced a manner.

The Chelsea number-three again got down the left in the manner that had been proving so ruinous to Steve Agnew’s side, again tried a shot from wide, but this time Guzan could only deflect it into his own net.

It was Cesar Azpilicueta who that time played a Fabregas-style ball to set up the goal, and he was evidently emboldened by making that kind of impression, going on try a speculative shot just after half-time.

That was the stage that the game - and the season - had reached. Chelsea were so comfortable that some of their players normally much less comfortable in front of goal were fancying their chances.

That’s not the type of thing you can say about Nemanja Matic given his latest screamer against Tottenham Hotspur FA Cup, and he followed it here with a different type of aesthetically pleasing goal on 64 minutes, even if it was again more about Fabregas.

The playmaker was once more the creator, offering the kind of instinctive but delightfully intricate one-touch outside-of-the-foot ball in the box that best comes off when you are on top of your game and barely have to think. Matic didn’t give the Middlesbrough defence much time to move, chesting the ball down before powering it past Guzan from close range.

Agnew had by then brought on former Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford for his first appearance in four weeks, and rather poignantly and pointedly, his first ever appearance at Stamford Bridge. He was still struggling to get much of the ball, as Conte’s team were so dominant.

Fabregas was more dominant than anybody, and manipulating the ball like no-one else on the pitch. It was marvellous to watch.

There were still even louder cheers to be heard, mind, like when John Terry was eventually introduced after 84 minutes to take captain’s armband. He is set to lift the Premier League trophy again, for the fifth time in total, for the perfect goodbye. This was yet another perfect win, of the exactly the type that has made Chelsea the excellent team winning this title.

There was no respite. So it was only a matter of time and the second goal arrived with Fabregas’s square pass collected by Cesar Azpilicueta who was again allowed to angle the ball back across the area with Alonso arriving to squeeze a volley from the tightest of angles that again went through Guzan’s legs.


Chelsea continued to push and just 39 seconds into the second-half Pedro pulled the trigger with his powerful right-foot shot from the area’s edge, from another Hazard delivery, clipping the top of the bar.

There was no let-up from Conte. He was constantly cajoling and coaching and reeling away in frustration as opportunities were not taken with Gary Cahill drawing back his foot and hammering a 30-yard drive that a stunned Guzan beat out before Fabregas’s half-volley took a heavy deflection and bounced inches wide with the goalkeeper wrong-footed. A third goal had to come and Nemanja Matic claimed it as he chested down Fabregas’s flick and struck a low shot – again through Guzan’s legs. A hat-trick of nutmegs. Chelsea were impressive with every player contributing or creating chances in an all-round display. It was the imperious performance of champions.


========================


Mail:

Chelsea 3-0 Middlesbrough: Diego Costa, Marcos Alonso and Nemanja Matic take Antonio Conte's side to the brink of Premier League title as Boro go down

 By Martin Samuel for the Daily Mail

Tony Pulis, the manager of West Bromwich Albion, Chelsea's next opponents, was at Stamford Bridge for this. What did he learn?

Probably, that the most he and his team can do on Friday night, is delay the return of the Premier League trophy to Chelsea by a few days, at best. They are unlikely to inflict permanent damage, to blow anything wide open, to turn the title on its head. Little they can do will give hope that there is to be a final twist.

The trip to West Brom is Chelsea's last away match of the season and Chelsea demonstrated against Middlesbrough what they can do to weak teams, at home. Rarely has a victory in these circumstances, at this stage in the season, been as comfortable.

Next Monday, Chelsea are scheduled to face Watford, who are not greatly better than Middlesbrough, at Stamford Bridge, followed by Sunderland on the final day of the season, who are even worse. As Chelsea now need one win, if it does not come on Friday, it is surely coming soon.

There were no nerves on Monday night, no tension, not even a ripple of uncertainty. The news that Middlesbrough had contrived to crash the team bus on the way in seemed to sum up the competence of the opposition.

Chelsea controlled the game from first to last and by the time Middlesbrough had a pop at goal, they were 3-0 down and as good as relegated.

All that was required was the formality of Craig Pawson's whistle at the end to confirm their return to the Championship after a single Premier League season. They offered little last night to suggest it was undeserved.

Chelsea were a different class, as expected, and Cesc Fabregas was on another level again. Middlesbrough have now fallen from the Premier League on four occasions, the epitome of a yo-yo club, joined on that number by Sunderland, Norwich and Crystal Palace.

West Brom will have more about them, make no mistake of that, and Pulis is a proud manager who will not wish to be seen to roll over.

But this is about Chelsea now. It would need a stumble of Devon Loch proportions for them not win the league from here and looks a matter of when, not if.

The opening goal, it was fair to say, had been coming since kick-off, the gulf between the teams enormous. Chelsea were effortlessly superior, simply a different grade as individuals and as a collective.

Middlesbrough do not have a forward with the potency of Diego Costa, a passer with the range of Fabregas, a forward as inventive as Eden Hazard. They didn't even need the newly-crowned Footballer of the Year and Players' Player of the Year, N'Golo Kante. He was out with a muscle injury.

Not that the finest defensive midfielder and athlete in the Premier League would have had much to do. There is a reason why Middlesbrough are where they are.

There is also a reason why Fabregas is the first player of the Premier League era to total assists in double figures across six seasons.

He may not always be what Antonio Conte wants in the heart of his midfield – in the tougher games he has preferred the belt and braces of Kante and Nemanja Matic – but unleashed on a night such as this he was quite exceptional.

Middlesbrough had no answer to his deliveries, right to left, designed to expose Fabio and Adama Traore as Middlesbrough's defensive weak link and doing just that.

Chelsea could have been ahead after two minutes, when Fabregas played the first in a series of defence-splitting passes, putting in Marcos Alonso on the left side.

Alonso hit his shot first time, into the pitch and off the bar. One of those nights? Hardly. Even Chelsea's fans had that swagger and confidence. They knew it was only a matter of time.

The same combination – Fabregas to Alonso – linked up after seven minutes, this time the left wing-back's cross flying low through the six-yard box.

Everyone wanted in on the act. Soon after, Fabregas had a go, the ball pulled back by Hazard for a shot that travelled just wide.

The ball always seemed to be zipping around the Middlesbrough area and in the 20th minute Hazard nutmegged Fabio – who always seemed to be involved but rarely positively – only for George Friend to run just enough interference to stop Costa putting the ball in at the far post.

The Chelsea man claimed a foul and had a point. Friend got none of the ball but plenty of the man.

Referee Craig Pawson ruled it was a fair contest, and soon after any injustice ceased to matter anyway.

It was a familiar route to goal, a clipped chip by Fabregas that was poorly dealt with by Fabio, allowing Costa to sneak in behind.

He killed the ball, and Middlesbrough, in that order – slipping the ball through the legs of the advancing Brad Guzan, his 24th goal of the season.

The next attack brought Chelsea's second and sealed Middlesbrough's fate. Again, a right to left ball caught Middlesbrough out – on this occasion from Cesar Azpilicueta.

Alonso has been superb for Conte this season, contributing six goals as well as steadfast defensive performances. He left Fabio, obviously, and struck a low shot that went in off Guzan.

There was some suggestion that it was off target without the deflection, but it would ne harsh to credit it as an own goal.

Middlesbrough looked sunk at two, and the third made certain of it. Another Fabregas pass rendered the Middlesbrough defence incapable and Matic was first to read it, shooting through Guzan's legs, by now a familiar path to success. It was his first Premier League goal in over a year.

How many more could Chelsea have had? At least five. Pedro skimmed the bar; Guzan twice saved well from Victor Moses; Fabregas, Alonso and Willian all had opportunities.

It was a party atmosphere, fans and players equally buoyant. Nobody here was in any doubt they were watching, or playing for, the champions. Conte pointed to his head, told his players to use their brains, to be calm. They responded with complete assuredness.

'We're top of the league,' crowed Chelsea's fans, 'We're going down,' responded Middlesbrough's to the same tune.

Lovely gallows humour, and impossible to deny. Middlesbrough could not have faced worse opponents for a game they had to win; Chelsea could not have hand-picked better, to smooth their path to the title.


Chelsea (3-4-1-2): Courtois 6.5; Cahill 7.5, Luiz 7 (Terry 84), Azpilicueta 7; Moses 7, Fabregas 8, Matic 7, Alonso 7.5; Pedro 7.5 (Chalobah 81), Costa 7.5, Hazard 7 (Willian 72)

Subs not used: Begovic, Zouma, Ake, Loftus-Cheek

Goals: Costa 23, Alonso 34, Matic 64

Manager: Antonio Conte 7.5


Middlesbrough (4-1-4-1): Guzan 5; Fabio 5, Chambers 6.5, Gibson 6.5, Friend 6; Clayton 6; Traore 5.5 (Bamford 57, 5), Forshaw 5.5 (Leadbitter 56, 5), De Roon 5.5, Downing 5.5; Negredo 6 (Gestede 82)

Subs not used: Konstantopoulos, Bernando, Barragan, Guedioura

Booked: Fabio, Bamford

Manager: Steve Agnew 6.5

Referee: Craig Pawson 6.5

Ratings by Sami Mokbel


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Express :

Chelsea 3 - Middlesbrough 0: Blues can win title on Friday as Boro suffer relegation

CESC FABREGAS may have struggled to hold down a starting place with Chelsea this season – but when the season reaches crunch time, that wise old Spanish brain is exactly what you need on the field.

By TONY BANKS

Chelsea stand just one win from their sixth league title this morning after as comprehensive a victory as they have managed all season.

That title – their second in three seasons – will come at the Hawthorns on Friday night if they beat West Brom.

But it was that wily old campaigner Fabregas, starting only his 11th league game all season, who carried them brilliantly through this nervous last stage of a gruelling campaign. The Spaniard, in majestic form all night, set up goals for Diego Costa and Nemanja Matic, with Marcos Alonso netting one in between.

Poor old Middlesbrough’s last gasp of Premier League life disappeared after just one season as they went down with Sunderland after this result – going out with a whimper.

Plans to ‘park the bus’ from Boro got off to the worst possible start last night. The team bus  bumped into a people carrier on the Fulham Road, delaying their arrival at Stamford Bridge.


A blow for Chelsea boss Antonio Conte before the game came with the news that new FWA Player of the Year N’Golo Kante had failed to recover from a thigh injury and was ruled out, which meant Fabregas started.

Steve Agnew saw his Boro side come into the game having scored a paltry 26 goals all season, and with just one win since December 17.

Chelsea, of course, were at them straight from the start. No sympathy for any possible whiplash.

Fabregas found Alonso unmarked on the left and his volley was turned on to the underside of the bar by Boro keeper Brad Guzan, but it bounced out and away.

Another Alonso cross saw no one get a touch, and then David Luiz fired a free-kick over the bar, before Fabregas put his shot wide from ten yards.

A great challenge from George Friend stopped Costa netting from point-blank range, but the goal was coming.

And come it did  – as once again Fabregas angled a ball in from the right – a tactic Conte had obviously been working on.

This time it was Costa just onside, and the Spaniard slipped his 21st goal of the season through the hapless Guzan’s legs.

It also meant that Fabregas had become the first player  to register 10 assists in six different Premier League seasons. Boro could barely get a foot on the ball before Chelsea’s second arrived from yet another ball from the right exposing them at the far post.

This time it was Cesar Azpilicueta playing the Fabregas role and there was Alonso all alone.

Guzan could only help his 34th-minute shot in at the near post. Alonso then saw his free-kick deflected just over the bar as Chelsea dominated. Boro had barely had time to consult their insurance documents.

The second half had barely started before Pedro found himself free and clipped the bar with his drive. Then Azpilicueta fired one just over.

Alonso’s cross-shot somehow stayed put once again, but the amount of room the Chelsea wing-back was getting on that flank spelled further problems for Boro.

Gary Cahill saw his piledriver kept out by an overworked Guzan, and then the centre- back put his header just wide.

The third came as once again a horribly overworked Boro defence failed to clear. Fabregas, once again the man in the right place, dinked a lovely little cross with his right foot and Matic controlled on his chest, swivelled and fired under Guzan.

Had there been any hope for Agnew’s side, who had not had a shot until then, that was the moment it was well and truly snuffed out.

In truth, it had been over the moment the first goal went in. The Championship, which they struggled so hard to get out of for seven long years, will see them back again next season.


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Mirror:

Chelsea 3-0 Middlesbrough: Blues close in on title as Boro are relegated - 5 things we learned

Diego Costa, Marcos Alonso and Nemanja Matic were on target as the champions-elect ran riot at Stamford Bridge to go seven points clear at the top

BY JOHN CROSS

Antonio Conte is just one win away from clinching the Premier League title after condemning Middlesbrough to relegation.

Diego Costa, Marcos Alonso and Nemanja Matic were on target as the champions-elect ran riot at Stamford Bridge to go seven points clear at the top.

Cesc Fabregas was outstanding for Chelsea, providing two assists which took him to 11 for the season and his recent form has helped push Conte’s men over the line.

It finished off a sorry season for Boro who went down with two games to go without so much as a fight as they were hopelessly outclassed.

Chelsea now just need one win to clinch the title and could wrap it up as early as Friday when they go to West Brom.


1. Chelsea look just champion

They are now just one win away from being crowned champions and this magnificent Chelsea team deserve every bit of praise coming their way.

They simply outclassed Middlesbrough, looking on a completely different level and that has been a familiar theme this season not just against the dead men but they have looked the best team by far.

Antonio Conte has built such a strong squad, a unified dressing room with their sights set on the Double, playing super football, entertaining, scoring good goals and also being trail blazers for the now ultra trendy three at the back formation.

One of the stars of Chelsea’s run-in has been Cesc Fabregas, he was fabulous against Middlesbrough, providing two assists making it 11 for the season.

You need big players when the pressure is on and Fabregas has epitomised the quality of champions.


2. It has been a car crash of a season for Boro

The Middlesbrough team bus did not arrive until an hour before kick-off after bumping into a car down the Fulham Road on the way to Chelsea.

That is rather in keeping with Boro’s season which has been a rocky road, a bumpy ride and a difficult journey in the top flight.

Aitor Karanka worked wonders to get them up, they were conservative in the transfer market, good in defence but really struggled to score the goals.

The switch to Steve Agnew has helped improve things but it has been too little, too late. Boro are a well run club under Steve Gibson but there must be a sense that they could have done more.


3. Diego Costa says his goodbyes

There’s always something going on with Diego Costa. After scoring his 20th goal of the Premier League season, he waved to the crowd maybe having some fun about his impending move to China this summer.

A huge pay day in the Chinese Super League beckons but we will miss Costa if he leaves English football.

He is pure box office. Always entertaining, prolific for Chelsea, loves to be the centre of attention and the sort of big character we love to hate.

Don’t go, Diego!


4. Brad Guzan does not like Stamford Bridge

The former Aston Villa keeper conceded eight at Stamford Bridge back in December 2012 so it’s fair to say this is not a happy hunting ground.

Believe it or not, it could have been 20-0 that day. I remember it well. In fact, Guzan was worse this time, letting all three goals through his legs. A hat trick of nutmegs.

Victor Valdes was a good signing for Boro but Guzan looked a real weak link, struggling to command his penalty box let alone make any meaningful saves.

Sadly, he is no longer up to the job, even as a No2.


5. N’Golo Kante deserves his latest award

The Chelsea midfielder was voted Player of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association but missed out at Stamford Bridge because of a muscle problem.

I voted for Kante last year when he helped win the title for Leicester and again the season as his role for Chelsea has been vital.

My broadsheet colleagues have cocked a snook at a red top writer choosing a defensive midfielder two years running before writing their eulogies about Eden Hazard.

Kante was the difference last year and has been worth two players to Chelsea this season.



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Star:

Chelsea 3 Middlesbrough 0: Blues close in on title as hapless Boro are relegated

CHELSEA were in cruise control as they made sure they can bag the title at the Baggies.

By David Woods

And there was not a hint of nerves as they set out to batter Boro and consign Steve Agnew’s side to an immediate return to the Championship.

Antonio Conte’s men went two up before the break thanks to goals from Diego Costa and Marcos Alonso.

For Costa it was his 21st goal of the season and Alonso has now weighed in with a useful half-dozen.

And to make it a night when Spain reigned, the first was created by Cesc Fabregas and the second by Cesar Azpilicueta.

Fabregas, for good measure, made the third for Nemanja Matic.

Boro, as expected, barely put up a fight.

Few teams have been able to handle Chelsea all season.

With less than a minute up the Blues could have been a goal ahead.

Fabregas’ raking ball found Alonso and his superbly-struck volley on the angle was somehow palmed onto the bar by Brad Guzan via the turf.

Eden Hazard teed up Fabregas perfectly in the centre of goal just inside the box in the 17th minute, but the Spaniard’s attempted sidefoot finish went a couple of yards wide.

Then three minutes later he looked to have put it on a plate for Costa, but somehow George Friend managed to do enough to stop the striker tucking the ball away from just a couple of feet out.

But he only needed two minutes more to score.

Somehow the Boro backline left him free at the far post.

Fabio was at fault, not being able to stretch far enough to stop Fabregas’ chipped pass from reaching the hitman.

Costa’s control was not quite perfect but his reaction after was, getting the ball from under his feet to stroke through the legs of Guzan.

As well as being a huge lift for the champions-elect it was a massive blow for Boro, who knew a defeat would ensure they joined North-East rivals Sunderland in dropping into the Championship.

In the 34th minute it was 2-0.

Again Boro were exposed in the Chelsea box and Azpilicueta picked out Alonso coming in from the left.

His shot from a tight angle went through Guzan’s legs and in off the keeper’s trailing arm.

A magnificent Fabregas crossfield ball picked out the run of Moses, but this time Guzan managed to keep the ball out with his legs.

Pedro almost punished Boro straight after the restart with a power drive which clipped the top of the bar.

Agnew’s men went through the motions, but they were outclassed in all areas.

Home fans often taunted “Are you watching Tottenham?” in a dig at their closest rivals.

You could safely bet they were not.

An all-Spanish move saw Fabregas pick out Pedro who played in Alonso on the overlap.

But Costa just could not stretch to turn in from close range.

Skipper Gary Cahill had a 25-yard belter beaten away by Guzan as Chelsea began to party with their fifth Premier League title within touching distance.

Fabregas was at it again in the 65th minute, teeing up Matic with a delightful dinked pass with the outside of his right foot which the Serbian chested down then drove through poor Guzan’s legs once again.



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Sun:

BYE BYE BORO Chelsea 3 Middlesbrough 0: Boro relegated after they are thumped by Antonio Conte’s champions-elect

Goals from Diego Costa, Marcos Alonso and Nemanja Matic consigns the Teessiders to Championship football next season

By John Hutchinson

IT was practically mission impossible for Middlesbrough – and so it proved tonight when they were thumped 3-0 away at Chelsea.

Boro needed to avoid defeat to give themselves any hope of avoiding the drop into the Championship – but the gulf in class was clear from the moment the whistle started the game.

Diego Costa put the hosts ahead in the 23rd minute following a spell of concerted pressure, and then raiding wing-back Marcos Alonso made it 2-0 just 11 minutes later.

Keep up to date with all the latest news, gossip, rumours and done deals in SunSport’s live transfer blog

The days was to get a whole lot worse for Boro keeper Brad Guzan when he was nutmegged for the third time to concede again, Nemanja Matic coolly finishing after a flowing move.

Marcos Alonso then sped to the far post and squeezed the ball past Brad Guzan

Chelsea now move seven points clear of second-placed Tottenham, with just three games to play.

For Middlesbrough, they may start to plan their summer clearout now as they drop back into the Championship after a tumultuous season.


As if Middlesbrough’s night at Chelsea wasn’t scary enough – a minor prang in the team bus in the crowded streets of West London only made things worse.

Antonio Conte admits before kick off that he wasn’t allowed to watch Tottenham’s key defeat on Friday night as he was having dinner with his wife and daughter.

Just one minute and ten seconds into the match Marcos Alonso hits a firm volley and keeper Brad Guzan manages to parry it up onto the crossbar with a remarkable save.

Diego Costa puts Chelsea ahead in the 23rd minute and immediately the fans start singing ‘Are You Watching Tottenham?’.

The game was up for Middlesbrough, who will now play Championship football next season

Chelsea star Diego Costa appears to wave goodbye to fans ahead of Chinese move

Alonso makes it 2-0 when his cross from the left squeezes through Guzan’s legs. Boro’s keeper has now been nutmegged twice in 21 minutes.

Chelsea fans also sing a derogatory song about London rivals West Ham - even though The Hammers did them a massive favour by beating Spurs last Friday. There’s gratitude for you.

Pedro hit the bar as Chelsea refuse to let up the pace with their first attack in the second half.

Nemanja Matic makes it 3-0 for Chelsea and the THIRD time Brad Guzan gets nutmegged. That’s going to hurt the keeper’s pride if nothing else.

Cesc Fabregas is the first player in history to notch 10 assists in six different Premier League seasons