Barclays Premier League 2014-2015 Campaign: Chelsea FC are CHAMPIONS!

Jose Mourinho relied on core players to return Premier League glory to ChelseaJob done. The Premier League is now over, having been won at a canter with three games remaining. Chelsea have enjoyed the denouement to their campaign, basking in the glory of being champions without having the pressure to win games.

An extended celebration climaxing with an open-top bus parade through the streets of SW6 has been wallowed in, and deservedly so. Each element of the team has been crucial to the collective success, with different periods of the season seeing different areas emerge as the focal point of the side. And yet it has not been a case of relying on vast resources to achieve their goal; a stable core was instead trusted to quest for the holy grail.

It has been no secret that Chelsea's greatest strength in depth over the last nine months has been between the posts. In Thibaut Courtois and Petr Cech, the Blues boasted the best duo of goalkeepers not only in England but in Europe. That Courtois has been selected regularly in favour of his venerated colleague shows in itself how good he is without even looking at his actual contributions.

Errors from the Belgian have been few and far between, and when they have occurred he has almost always immediately responded with something otherworldly. Poor distribution at Everton was compensated by a quite stunning save from Kevin Mirallas in the second half to ensure a two-goal cushion. His triple save at Hull City came after he had gifted Abel Hernandez the equaliser in the first half.

Chelsea's embarrassment of riches was clearest when there was never any question of Courtois playing injured, even if suffering the most minor of ailments. With a player of Cech's pedigree waiting in the wings, there was no point in fielding a goalkeeper who was not 100 percent fit, meaning that there was always a world-class stopper behind the back four. Cech, as if it even needs saying, was exemplary when called upon.

As for the back four, what a season they have had. A case could easily be made for all of them to be named in a team of the year, and not just because they conceded the fewest goals in the division. In John Terry, Chelsea had the best central defender by a distance, a player rejuvenated by Jose Mourinho's return to the club. The fire in the captain's belly has never dimmed, and neither has his ability despite the constant desire from many to write him off. His display at Arsenal saw him receive nationwide praise, though in truth, he had been performing like that all season.

Alongside him, Gary Cahill was excellent. There was a dip in form in the middle of the campaign that justifiably saw him lose his place briefly to Kurt Zouma, although that seemed to be due to the fatigue of being ever-present for both club and country more than anything worrying. After his return, he became an important part of Chelsea's defensive march to the title, repeatedly putting his body on the line for the cause. Zouma, for his part, did not put a foot wrong whether deployed in defence or midfield, and he promises a bright future.

There have been some eye-catching full-backs this season, with Southampton duo Ryan Bertrand and Nathaniel Clyne earning deserved plaudits along with West Ham's Aaron Cresswell. In Cesar Azpilicueta and Branislav Ivanovic, though, Chelsea have a pair that were at least the match of any in the Premier League. Yet they could not be more different. Where Ivanovic is built like a rugby player and often acts like a one-man wrecking ball up and down his flank, Azpilicueta is more measured, sizing up his opponent and picking the right moment to swoop. Their pre-eminence has been such that one of last summer's big signings, Filipe Luis, has barely had a look in.

Much like one of his predecessors in Chelsea's midfield, Nemanja Matic has redrawn the paradigm for his position. He might not yet have a role named after him in the same manner as Claude Makelele did, but Matic has shown the value of a rangy, dynamic ball-winner who is also an excellent footballer. Suddenly, every manager wants a Matic. In the early part of the season, Cesc Fabregas dovetailed with Matic beautifully, the brain and the brawn combining to devastating effect as teams were both dominated and dazzled. Although opposition sides became wise to it as the campaign wore on, Ramires' return from injury helped to add more ballast and energy to that department, even if some creativity was lost as a result.

Fabregas thus saw himself pushed further forward, displacing the tiring Oscar, who for the third season running was unable to follow up an excellent autumn with an equally effective winter and spring. Even so, there was still that sumptuous back-heel to set up Eden Hazard's winner against Manchester United as well as an impressive attacking display at Arsenal before Oscar's afternoon was curtailed after being leveled by David Ospina.

It was a tightknit group of Chelsea regulars that returned the Premier League trophy to West London.

And as for Hazard, what more can be said about this magical player? He just got better with each passing game, and his progression shows no sign of stopping. Deceptively strong, with mesmerising feet coupled with the acceleration of a Formula 1 car, he managed to shine brightest in a team full of standout players. He was the difference when it mattered on multiple occasions vs. Manchester City, Arsenal, Man United, Tottenham and Liverpool -- all were on the wrong end of his genius. Even when he was kicked, he subsequently scored from the penalty spot or one of his teammates netted from the resulting free kick.

None of the tricks and flicks would have come to anything if the team did not have a player like Willian on the opposite flank to work himself into the ground, though. Often understandably criticised for not producing enough defining moments in the final third, he made up for it through his positional diligence and team ethic. Juan Cuadrado was acquired in January to add competition for Willian's place but was largely an onlooker as the Brazilian raised his game.

Despite the seasoned campaigners and the graceful aesthetes, a new cult hero emerged this season in the shape of Diego Costa. This raging bull of a striker was an instant hit among the supporters as much for his confrontational attitude as his immediate goal return. Sir Alex Ferguson once said that former Blues captain Dennis Wise could start a fight in an empty house, and Costa is cut from the very same cloth. It's no wonder, then, that both are held so high in the fans' affections. Uncompromising and provocative, yet deceptively skillful and unselfish, the 32 million signing was what Chelsea had so desperately lacked, and his ruthlessness in all areas was crucial to the team becoming champions.

When fit, Loic Remy showed his predatory instincts, and his winning goals against Hull and Stoke in consecutive games as the season entered the final straight were as important as any that preceded them. Didier Drogba's force had clearly faded, but there was still time for some reminders of the old magic, notably against Man United, Tottenham and Leicester.

Some others played their part, too, such as John Obi Mikel and the now-departed Andre Schurrle, but really it was a tightknit band of regulars that saw the job through. It was a job extremely well done.

Terry, Fabregas & Costa all in as Chelsea dominate Team of the SeasonDavid Hirshey picked his Premier League Team of the Season, but the rest of the ESPN FC panel did not agree.Chelsea landed the Premier League title but would they be a match for ESPN FC's team of the season? Gab Marcotti, Paul Mariner and Steve Nicol pick the season's best XI.

Right backAs ever, it didn't take long for discord to break out and we have a tense tussle on our hands at right back. In the blue corner,Branislav Ivanovic, Chelsea's Mr. Reliable. In the red (and white) corner, Nathaniel Clyne, who has had a formidable campaign on the south coast. Messrs Nicol and Mariner like the cut of the Serbian's jib and highlight his four goals in the campaign while Marcotti says Clyne has upped his defensive game this campaign. For his goals, graft and part in securing the title, we'll go for Big Ivan.

Centre backHe's finally got his hands on the Premier League trophy, having last lifted it in 2010, andJohn Terryis another unanimous choice from our panellists. Chelsea's captain has been the proverbial rock for Jose Mourinho this season, returning the Blues to their stingy best and getting back on the goal trail, to boot. Mariner said: "Everyone thought he was finished at this level. Wrong. What a leader of men." And Marcotti adds: "Arguably his best ever season. Form didn't dip even as the team showed signs of fatigue in the second half of the campaign."

Left backA third Blue in our defensive four arrives at left back in the shape ofCesar Azpilicueta; an ever so slightly silkier version of Ivanovic at right back but no less industrious. The Spaniard edges out Aaron Cresswell, who was put forward by Marcotti after a fine first season in the top flight at West Ham. Nicol, a wily defender in his time, calls Azpilicueta "old-fashioned," while Mariner says: "He is never exposed, possesses pace, joins in attacks and is a superb one versus one defender."

Centre midfieldNemanja Matichas struck a chord with our panellists this season. Marcotti has been especially smitten throughout the whole campaign. It's not a stretch to claim that when fit, he's the first name on Jose Mourinho's team sheet, such is his effectiveness in disrupting opposition attacks. He also offers a deft touch in his own offensive operations. Marcotti calls him the "human shield," while Mariner says he is "the blueprint for the holding midfielder," and Nicol adds Matic is "positionally outstanding."

Centre midfieldThe blue tinge in our Team of the Season grows ever thicker with the inclusion ofCesc Fabregasalongside Matic. Marcotti offered up the name of "Mr. Intensity" Morgan Schneiderlin, who enjoyed a supreme season with Southampton but he did also select Fabregas alongside Mariner. His snapshot of the Spaniard's season reads: "Assist leader, strength of character, the passing king," while Marcotti said: "A record number of assists playing in a new team and in a new role. Lived up to the billing with minimum fuss (well, until the second to last game of the season and that stupid red card)."

Right midfieldOn the right-hand side, the PFA Player of the YearEden Hazard. This season he has underlined his burgeoning reputation as one of the game's sublime talents and he is the benchmark of flair in a Chelsea side that can leave itself open to criticism for a workmanlike obsession. Marcotti was impressed by his dedication to the ethic that Mourinho demands in a defensive sense while adding, ominously, that he "Can only get better." Mariner lauds his ability to "break the lines" and Nicol says his strength on the ball scares defenders to death.

StrikerThe final slot in our Team of the Season goes toDiego Costa. Marcotti bangs the Kane drum, talking up his 30 goals across all competitions but stops cruelly short of calling him the future of English football. Mariner and Nicol, though, have shunned the Spurs' hope in favour of an altogether more abrasive character. The former says that no one wants to play against Costa and Nicol says: "He scores goals and upsets people in equal measure." A tally of 20 in his first Premier League season is some achievement.

David Hirshey's Best Premier League XI for the 2014-15 seasonI could have made this so easy; just copy Chelsea's roster and call it my Premier League Best XI for 2014-15. Ok, I might have knocked out a couple of the lesser players like Ruben Loftus-Cheek and that guy in a mask whose best pass of 2015 earned him a one-game suspension, but the real reason I decided not to was that I didn't want to ape the Professional Football Association -- they named practically every member of the title-winning squad, except for Jose Mourinho's personal meditation swami.

So you'll only find four Blues on this list, the most I could bring myself to include and still retain a shred of self-respect. Deal with it.

CB: John Terry, ChelseaWhat, you thought I'd be so blinded by my loathing of the man as to leave him off the team?

While I was sorely tempted, not even I could stoop that low (possibly due to a bad back), but also because this is not a list of candidates for the Premier League's Humanitarian of the Year award. Not to mention that Brendan Rodgers already locked that one up anyway for his refusal to bench Steven Gerrard in the face of the sharpest decline of an English icon since George Michael.

It is not for me to extoll Terry's qualities as a captain, leader, warrior, winner and all-round defensive colossus. Nor is it for me to mention that against all karmic odds, he has defied injury, public venomand Rafael Benitezto carry Chelsea to an astonishing 16th trophy since he broke into the senior team as a teenager.

Let others talk about his positional intelligence, aerial dominance, ability to pass his way out of tight spots and his utter refusal to pay any notice to his personal odometer. No, I have only one word to say about John Terry and it has taken me decades to utter it: Respect.

LB: Cesar "Dave" Azpilicueta, ChelseaWhen Jose Mourinho famously declared thatChelsea could win the league with a team of 11 Azpilicuetas, he was engaging in an uncharacteristic bit of hyperbole; everyone knows Chelsea need only 10 men behind the ball to get the job done.

But it's a measure of how highly Mourinho regards the 25-year-old Spaniard that his is the first name on the team sheet when you consider that Chelsea boasts the PFA Player of the Year in Eden Hazard and the mother of all captains in John Terry. Yet for all the gaudy skill and gritty leadership that those two bring to the side, neither has been as ferociously consistent as the quiet, understated defender his colleagues affectionately refer to as "Dave."

Chelsea would have been up a Portuguese creek without Azpi's lockdown discipline. A throwback to old-school, no-frills full-backs who were content to hold their position for 90 minutes, he provided the critical defensive balance that allowed Branislav Ivanovic to maraud forward on the right flank and score some big goals. In 29 league appearances this season, Azpilicueta didn't commit a single error that led to an opponent's scoring chance and Chelsea recorded 16 clean sheets with him in the lineup.

And the larger the game, the bigger the 5-foot-10 defender plays. In Chelsea's last serious test before they clinched the title, a 0-0 stalemate with Arsenal that was perhaps the crowning moment of glory for the Blues' defense, Azpilicueta completely nullified the right side of the Gunners' attack, making 10 tackles, or seven more than anyone else on the field.

It's no wonder that Chelsea's $26 million transfer from Atletico Madrid, the highly rated Brazilian left-back Filipe Luis, could barely get into the team; he started only nine league games and was approached about a summer move back to his former club. (He said no.) This would mark the second world-class defender whom Azpilicueta has seen off since he arrived at Stamford Bridge. Oh Cashley, we can barely remember you.

CM: Nemanja Matic, ChelseaEvery title-winning side needs one. The physically imposing midfielder who sits in front of his back four and dares opposing attackers to try to breach the gates. The master of retaining position, igniting the counterattack and committing the professional foul. Someone who can translate when Branislav Ivanovic is screaming at the referee.

It's rare to find a player who ticks off all the boxes, but Chelsea did. Then they let him get away. Luckily for the Blues, they recognized the second time around exactly what they had in Nemanja Matic, the Premier League's state-of-the-art holding midfielder -- and if they had topay an additional $31 million to get him back? Well, it helps that Roman Abramovich has a black American Express card.

Upon his return to Stamford Bridge, Matic made his muscular presence known, earning man of the match in his one of his first starts, against Manchester City in September. It's not even a stretch to say that either he or Alexis Sanchez was the best player in England during the first half of the season, prowling his domain in front of Terry and Cahill like a beast who gave no quarter and expected none in return. At the same time, his Thou-Shalt-Not-Pass mentality gave Cesc Fabregas the freedom to roam forward and use his telescopic vision to pick out Diego Costa with the defense-shredding pass.

Though his high-impact performances may have fallen off at the sharp end of the season, they were still formidable enough to ensure Chelsea's coronation. More so than John Terry or even Eden Hazard, the Blues would not have won the league without Matic. I just hope that in some part of his brain, Arsene Wenger has been paying attention.

LM: Eden Hazard, ChelseaI admit to having a bit of a man-crush on Hazard. I first glimpsed his wondrous skills in 2009 when he was a fresh-faced 18-year-old playing for Lille in a cup final against Lyon. Suddenly from inside his own half, he beat his man, split two defenders with a lightning dribble and then lashed a 20-yard screamer into the far corner.

It was rare to see a player who embodied so many disparate gifts: explosive propulsion with the ball at his feet, exquisite balance and upper body strength to ride the crudest of tackles, and an audacious ability to humiliate defenders with nutmegs and back-heels at high speed. Because he was playing in France, I knew it was only a matter of time until I saw him in an Arsenal shirt.

You can imagine my horror when $50 million later, he turned up at Stamford Bridge in 2012 thanks in part to the efforts of former Blues star Joe Cole who, while on loan at Lille, told Hazard that Chelsea was the right club for him to realize his ambitions.Why, in the name ofjogo bonito, would one of the most exciting attackers in the world go to a club renowned for turgid 1-0 score lines? But credit to the Chelsea brain trust; they may be the ultimate soccer pragmatists who build their teams from the back, but they certainly aren't stupid. Roman Abramovich was demanding something resembling offensive fluidity for his billions and nobody was going to shackle this 24-year-old Belgian.

Despite being fouled almost twice as much as any player in the league, he also found time to contribute 14 goals and seven assists in 32 starts last season, numbers that he matched (14 and eight) this campaign.

Moreover, he has been at his incandescent best when Chelsea's other two attacking stars, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas, faded dramatically as the season wore on. Combined with Chelsea's penchant for close matches, Hazard's seven goals in games that at the time were either tied or had them protecting a one-goal lead were almost certainly the reason that the Blues were rarely threatened on their procession to the EPL title.Damn you, Joe Cole.

Manager: Jose Mourinho, ChelseaI don't want to talk about it.

Strongly considered:Ronald Koeman (Southampton)Viable candidates in their own mind:Alan Pardiola (Newcastle, then Crystal Palace), Tim "I invented Harry Kane" Sherwood (Aston Villa)

Hazard the hero as Chelsea clinch the Premier League titleLONDON -- Three points on Chelsea's Premier League-clinching 1-0 win vs. Crystal Palace.

1. Hazard inspires Chelsea's title clinchIt ended as it had gone on for so long: in a well-stage-managed procession. Eden Hazard headed home to finally confirm what has been long known: Chelsea are the 2014-15 Premier League champions. In that, Sunday's 1-0 win over Crystal Palace was much like the title race itself. Jose Mourinho's side got a sufficiently early lead, and never looked like letting it slip. There was never any tension about it.

Much like the title race, too, Hazard was the decisive player, and it was fitting that he followed his crowning as PFA player of the year with the moment that crowned Chelsea as champions.

It came just before half-time when, just as in the pace-setting 2-0 win over Arsenal back in October, it was the Belgian who won a penalty after James McArthur and Adrian Mariappa had put out their legs in the box. As in the decisive 1-0 win over Manchester United just two weeks ago, it was Hazard that also finished.

Somewhat unlike the title race and his general form, though, it did involve a slip. Hazard actually had his penalty saved by Julian Speroni, but reacted quickest to tidily head the ball in.

It meant Chelsea were yet again in control and meant the team remain on course for a return of 92 points, which would be the second highest in Premier League history, after only Mourinho's first title-winning team of 2004-05.

There are many parallels with that victory, from the manner a young team used a League Cup first trophy win to bound them together as a collective, propelling them through to claim the title.

Chelsea were impressively cohesive in structure in the second half, easily keeping Palace at bay, although Thibaut Courtois did have to make his last telling contribution to this title win with a fine block from Wilfried Zaha. For all the talk of underwhelming champions in a poor season, too, Chelsea have now claimed 19 points from their last 21. It's quite a way to lock it down. Hazard again turned the key, the game, and the race.

2. Mourinho knows how to winPerhaps the most fitting aspect of Chelsea's triumph was that there was no real final flourish to claim the win as Mourinho again reverted to what he knew. Never was that more evident than at half-time, when Juan Cuadrado was hauled off for John Obi Mikel.

Erratic creativity was replaced by sideways predictability after the manager had watched Cuadrado offer absolutely nothing in the first half and repeatedly put Chelsea at risk, again raising some minor questions about the balance of their squad and what they're going to do in the summer transfer market. That is not to write off the Colombian, who deserves understanding and patience for the way he is adjusting to both a new league and Mourinho's very specific defensive demands from attackers. It was all too obvious that Cuadrado was only a late inclusion for Ramires, who was taken ill with kidney stones.

The former Fiorentina winger evidently hasn't synced up with the rest of the forwards, as one breakdown in a move with Willian displayed, and isn't yet up to speed with the tactical instructions. Thus, it was no surprise that the Colombian was taken off and perhaps less of a surprising that, with a win of consequence in the balance, Mourinho locked it down further as the match ended with a central midfield trio of Kurt Zouma, Mikel and Matic, plus Filipe Luis coming on for Eden Hazard.

Mourinho won it as he knows best: by making sure not to lose it.

3. Palace could affect the race for fourthThere wasn't much carnival-like joy to Chelsea's final win but a large part of that is because, in Mourinho's own words from last season, Crystal Palace were not prepared to be the "clowns in the circus". They remained tight early on, only succumbing to a penalty, and were adventurous in attack late. It says much that they forced Mourinho into such a defensive set-up late on, and further reflects on the effect of Alan Pardew since he took over as manager.

Also, if Palace were not to prevent a crowning here, they could yet become king-makers in another way. The race for fourth has suddenly got a bit tense and Pardew's side meet both Manchester United and Liverpool in the next two weeks. On the evidence of this battling performance and just how much they pushed the best side in the league, they could yet swing that race even more.

The moments that defined Chelsea's Premier League-winning campaignWith 25 wins and only two defeats in the 35 games that it took for Chelsea to be crowned Premier League champions, it is clear that consistency has provided the fundamental base for the team's success. Yet despite their machine-like quality to churn out result after result, there are a few particular matches that stand out as either pivotal to the eventual outcome or symbolic of the Blues' return to the top of the English game this season.

Aug. 18, 2014 | Burnley 1-3 ChelseaThe season's first fixture might have appeared to be an open goal for the Blues against a freshly promoted club, but these matches are rarely straightforward given the initial positivity that perennially surrounds the new kids on the block. And thus it proved in the early stages with Scott Arfield stunning Jose Mourinho's men with the opening goal less than 15 minutes into the match. Alas for the home fans and neutrals hoping for an upset, that merely stung Chelsea into action and gave the rest of the country a glimpse of what to expect over the next few months.

Within three minutes, new 32 million signing Diego Costa had rattled home the equaliser -- the first of 19 league goals to date -- and a footballing masterclass ensued. The lead was established four minutes later by Andre Schurrle via a sumptuous move involving the pass of the season from another new acquisition, Cesc Fabregas, and was extended before halftime by Branislav Ivanovic. The combination of silky, penetrative football and ruthlessness from set pieces was an early warning to the rest of the division as to what they could expect to see from the Londoners.

Aug. 30, 2014 | Everton 3-6 ChelseaChelsea's swashbuckling start to the campaign continued with this nine-goal thriller at Goodison Park, a ground where they have enjoyed mixed fortunes over the years. What looked like being the first real test of the season appeared to be anything but after the visitors raced into a 2-0 lead through Costa and Ivanovic with just three minutes on the clock, the result of a two fantastic passing moves that ripped through the Toffees.

Chelsea's fluid play was on full display at Everton in August, where the Premier League got its first look at Diego Costa's fiery personality. Everton responded admirably by pulling one back through Kevin Mirallas and they continued to press but they were never able to draw level thanks to Chelsea's constant ability to break through at the other end, something characterised by a spell of 10 second-half minutes in which five goals flew in.

With Nemanja Matic and Ramires also getting on the scoresheet, it showed that there was a threat from all over the pitch. There was even the first evidence of Costa's snarling menace with his running battle with Seamus Coleman being a feature of the game. At the other end, a quite stupendous save from a Mirallas volley that would have made the score 5-5 served notice of Thibaut Courtois' exceptional ability that would be showcased many more times over the course of the season.

Dec. 22, 2014 | Stoke City 0-2 ChelseaIf the previous two examples on this list highlighted their sheer footballing ability, this match proved that Chelsea could front up physically when required. One of English football's modern day cliches is to use a hypothetical cold Tuesday night at Stoke City as a barometer to gauge a player or a team's resolve and durability. This match might have actually taken place on Monday evening but the plummeting winter temperatures coupled with the raucous Britannia Stadium and the Potters' rugged approach ensured that Chelsea's credentials were sure to be tested. They passed with flying colours.

The Blues were right at it from the start, taking the lead inside two minutes via the indomitable John Terry, all rolled-up sleeves and English grit. The following 88 minutes saw a gruelling encounter with fierce tackling and aerial duels everywhere you looked but interspersed among it was a performance from Eden Hazard that combined artistry with a refusal to be cowed.

The recipient of some horrendous treatment at the hands of Phil Bardsley, the uncomplaining Belgian just kept dusting himself off and going again. His ability to shrug off the knocks and respond by skillfully destroying his tormentor was one of the traits he would exhibit throughout the season and one of the many reasons he is so loved by Chelsea supporters. Fabregas then wrapped up the points late in the second half to cap an impressive collective display.

Jan. 1, 2015 | Tottenham 5-3 ChelseaThe match at White Hart Lane was undeniably the turning point of the season. The result signalled the end of the free-flowing attacking football and a switch to a more pragmatic, conservative method. And yet but for the bounce of the ball here and there, the result could have been very different.

Costa opened the scoring and Chelsea dominated the opening half hour. Had Oscar's shooting radar been calibrated properly then they could quite feasibly have been three goals up by the time Harry Kane equalised. Even after Tottenham had gone 5-2 in front, Chelsea created enough good chances to take something from the game, but the concession of so many goals clearly alarmed Mourinho and a new, defensively solid approach was adopted.

Although Swansea were put to the sword on their own patch two weeks later in a display of champagne football, it would be the only time during the rest of the campaign that the Blues would play with their early season flourish. Substance would now be preferred over style.

March 22, 2015 | Hull City 2-3 ChelseaA five-goal thriller might not suggest too much defensive solidity, although the manner of victory was in keeping with Chelsea's habit of making it hard for themselves in the second half of the season. A wonderful solo goal from Hazard was matched by Costa to put them into what should have been an unassailable 2-0 lead after just nine minutes.

Instead, what followed was a collective meltdown across the back line (John Terry excepted) that saw errors from Ivanovic and Courtois brutally punished. With Chelsea on the ropes, it could have been much worse for the visitors had Courtois not redeemed himself with a remarkable triple save in the second half to keep the scores level.Loic Remy spared Chelsea's blushes at Hull after his side were wasteful with their early lead.

Costa's troubled hamstring then forced his substitution, although that just showcased what Chelsea now had that they had missed last season: a decent reserve striker. Just seconds after coming on, Loic Remy scored the winner with his very first touch. Admittedly, it was not the most sweetly struck shot of the season but it was good enough and his ability to be in the right place at the right time was replicated the following week when his goal against Stoke once again made the difference between one point and three.

April 26, 2015 | Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea"Boring, boring Chelsea!"

Never has an opposition taunt caused such mirth among Chelsea fans and so rarely has one been so widely derided by neutrals and pundits alike. The defensive clinic that the Blues put on at the Emirates Stadium was almost a deliberate act to troll Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal faithful, showing them one of the key ingredients needed to win the league, an ingredient that their team has lacked for over a decade.

Despite the debates that were sparked by the errant chant, it should be remembered that Ramires should have given Chelsea a first-half lead and had referee Michael Oliver been a little sharper then the Blues would have been awarded at least one penalty with Arsenal reduced to 10 men. It might not have been quite so boring then.

For the second week in a row, having beaten Manchester United eight days earlier, Chelsea had eliminated a potential threat to their ambitions and poured cold water on those hoping for a nail-biting climax to the title race. Six more points might still have been required to guarantee top spot but in actuality it was when the final whistle blew in North London that Chelsea were really crowned champions.

Jose Mourinho's Chelsea changes and choices make title win satisfyingEden Hazard's header following a saved penalty was enough to secure Chelsea's fourth Premier League title.

It was around this time two years ago that Chelsea and Jose Mourinho began plotting his return to Stamford Bridge. It was a telegraphed return. His Real Madrid experience was coming to an end amid acrimony and accusations, and the fact that he had three years left on his deal at the Bernabeu wasn't worth, for either side, the paper it was written on. Meanwhile, Chelsea's own manager, Rafa Benitez, was due to leave Stamford Bridge in a few weeks.

From the earliest meetings between Chelsea and Mourinho, two things were clear: 1. Nearly six years after his first spell as manager ended, the club wanted him back. 2. This time, things would be different.

This was not the club he joined in 2004 on the day of one of the most memorable misquotes in football. (He never said, "I am thespecial one," but rather, "I think I am a special one," referring to the fact that he was arriving as a European Cup winner, not some random rent-a-coach or, as he put it, "one of the bottle.")

Since his departure, Chelsea had played in two Champions League finals, winning one in 2012 and having lost the other, four years earlier, on penalty kicks. They had won a Premier League crown in 2009-10 by scoring a record number of goals. They had also won a Europa League in 2013 and three FA Cups (2009, 2010 and 2012). They weren't a club establishing themselves in the big time. They were -- thanks also to Mourinho's contribution a decade earlier -- the big time.

Chelsea no longer had a green owner who stayed out of the way and simply cut cheques to friendly agents who did the club's bidding. Roman Abramovich was older and more savvy and had a whole structure in place, from his trusted adviser Marina Granovskaya to Michael Emenalo, the club's director of football. Mourinho wasn't there to build a club from near-scratch. He was there to fit into a framework, and that meant, on certain issues, deferring to others.

And that, perhaps, is what makes this Premier League title different from his successes elsewhere, particularly at Inter and Real Madrid.

Jose Mourinho's latest league title win was the eighth of his managerial career and his third with Chelsea.It arrived with a big dose of humility, which is not a word often associated with Mourinho. Whatever the outside world thought, the club intelligentsia did not view him as a messiah. They knew his strengths and weaknesses; they had studied his character inside and out. The Portuguese was brought back for what he could contribute, not to cut a path to the promised land.

To his credit, Mourinho embraced the role and he did it with minimum controversy, even when he did not get his way. Juan Mata and David Luiz stuck around longer than anticipated -- and longer than they would have had Mourinho been in full control.

Meanwhile, guys like Kevin De Bruyne, Mohamed Salah and Andre Schurrle were shown the door, but with minimum fuss, partly because of the sizable return in the transfer market, but partly because neither Mourinho nor Emenalo sniped at each other.

Would the same have happened during his time in Milan or Madrid? Probably not. Or, indeed, during his first tenure at Stamford Bridge, during which the tension was palpable and often boiled over after Frank Arnesen was brought in as sporting director in 2005.

Maybe one thing follows from another. When you're not fighting internal battles, feuding with the media or worrying about transfers, you can devote yourself entirely to the players and the training pitch. And that's where we've seen a truly different Mourinho this season.

He has played a key role in the growth of certain players in a way that simply did not happen in Milan or Madrid. Eden Hazard will likely sweep the Player of the Year awards this season and, at 24, has risen to that elite level of players a notch below the two ubiquitous outliers, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

It wasn't painless -- Mourinho criticized the Belgian last season -- but the upshot is that he's gone to another level. Cesar Azpilicueta, an attacking right-back, has become one of the best one-on-one defensive left-backs around.Mourinho also had the foresight to turn Cesc Fabregas from a talented jack-of-all-trades at Barcelona into the lead playmaker, just as he had been at Arsenal, and he has already notched 17 assists, which is four more than he managed in any year at the Camp Nou, when he had the luxury of passing the ball to a certain Messi.

Then there are the veterans. John Terry, at 34, has enjoyed perhaps his finest season at Stamford Bridge. Branislav Ivanovic, in his eighth season, has thrived as a two-way threat down the right. Petr Cech accepted being second-choice and, when called upon, punched his weight. These are players who had already won everything in sight. And while, after the fact, it may seem a given that Mourinho got them on side, history shows it's not something to take for granted.

ESPN FC's Craig Burley says Jose Mourinho is the best manager in the Premier League. Perhaps the biggest and most obvious change was in his scheme. The preferred 4-2-3-1 with two high-energy ball winners shielding the back four was abandoned in favor of a scheme with a holding midfielder (Nemanja Matic) and a deep-lying playmaker (Fabregas).The "double pivot" had been a hallmark at the Bernabeu (with Sami Khedira and Xabi Alonso), at Inter (Thiago Motta and Esteban Cambiasso), during his first stint at Chelsea (Claude Makelele and Michael Essien) and even last season.

Again, it's easy after the fact to suggest that it was an obvious change. When you have a monster like Matic, you can get away with a Fabregas next to him -- anyone can see that. But that was far from apparent in the summer.Mourinho made a conscious choice to build the playmaking duties around Fabregas and to do it in a deeper role -- so much so that he personally spoke to him several times before his signing, a decision which Fabregas' people say was crucial in getting him on board.

A corollary of that choice was the use of Diego Costa. At Atletico Madrid, the striker had been primarily a devastating force on the counter and on set pieces, playing for a team often happy to concede possession against bigger opponents. Mourinho helped turn him into a better-rounded front man (something his critics who saw him struggle for Spain at the World Cup suggested was a waste of time), capable of functioning and contributing to a press-and-possession side like the one he built this year.

What's more, it worked. Folks may be beating Chelsea with the "boring" stick these days, but the first part of the season, right up until that 5-0 hammering of Swansea in January, tell a different story. Until that stage, Chelsea had won 24 of 31 games in all competitions, losing just twice. They were averaging 2.31 goals per Premier League game and outplaying virtually everyone.

You know what happened next. There was a steep decline, Chelsea were eliminated from the FA Cup and Champions League and the perception is that they limped across the finish line.

To my eyes, the drop was physical, perhaps a function of Mourinho's refusal to rotate or use more of his squad earlier in the season, perhaps a result of a conditioning program that did not quite go to plan. Whatever the case, by almost any metric, Chelsea did not play as well, which is why he resorted to bus parking against Manchester United and Arsenal in recent weeks.

But to call the 2014-15 version of Chelsea "boring" -- in addition to being juvenile -- is simply untrue. This was a side that, relative to past Mourinho teams and the talent at his disposal, showed more attacking oomph, more creativity and, yes, more entertainment.

When he returned in 2013, Mourinho accepted that his way of working and relating to club officials had to change, and it did. A year later, he ditched the old blueprint in terms of style of play and tactical approach as well.It wasn't always painless, and there were plenty of bumps along the way, especially in the past few months. He made mistakes and was likely helped by the inconsistency of other title contenders. But he embraced the change and showed the savvy to make it work in ways which, for him, were new and untested. And he was rewarded with his third Premier League title and third League Cup.

Where does it rank relative to winning trebles with Porto and Inter, the 100-point season at Real and the two earlier titles at Chelsea? Numbers will say those were more impressive. But in some ways, this may have been the most courageous and most satisfying.

Chelsea geared up to dominate in England for years to come

Chelsea finally secured the Premier League title in front of their home fans with a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace and three games to spare.

Monday is a public holiday in the UK, which will be a boost to the many Chelsea supporters who will have woken up with a hangover after celebrating the Premier League title, secured with a functional 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace.

That the Blues are champions with three games to spare serves to underline the dominance of Jose Mourinho's team in the top flight this season, yet despite this the manner of Eden Hazard's winner against the Eagles encapsulated the campaign perfectly.

Hazard, the PFA Player of the Year, has been terrorising opposition defences week-in, week-out since August. Having bamboozled the Palace back line, the Belgium international drew a foul from James McArthur in the penalty area and as he stepped up to take the resultant spot kick the expectant home crowd held its breath. This was it -- the moment they had been waiting for.

What could go wrong? Hazard never misses from 12 yards in Premier League matches.A bit like that New Year's Day aberration when Tottenham Hotspur blitzed Chelsea 5-3 at White Hart Lane, a defeat that left the Blues heading the table on alphabetical order from Manchester City, there was a moment of doubt when Palace keeper Julian Speroni smartly saved Hazard's penalty.

Were dreams about to be shattered? Would it all go horribly wrong from here? Chelsea lose and lose and lose and lose and Arsenal win and win and win and win and win. No! Fortunately!

At the start of the year, Mourinho's men regrouped and resurged while City's challenge faltered then fell away. On Sunday, Hazard reacted swiftly and headed Speroni's parried save into the net -- and from that point on there was only going to be one winner.

Chelsea started the season as favourites for the title and have headed the table, albeit tenuously at one stage, since the end of August. The 13-point margin that separates the Blues from Man City in second place means that before the season ends Manchester United's long-standing record -- dating back to 1993-94 -- when the Red Devils topped the table for 262 days will be broken. Superiority comes in many guises when it comes to football, but that is one statistic that tells a definitive story.

"Boring, boring Chelsea," was the ironic chant from home supporters at the Bridge and in the many bars in and around the ground after the game. The reality is, the Blues have been anything but boring as far as their fans are concerned -- and, if the truth be told, those who have chided Mourinho's style of play know that behind their barbed comments lies nothing but a thin green veneer of jealousy.

What is interesting is the real possibility that the haters and the envious could be in for a torrid few years as the usual suspects among the regular contenders for the Premier League title play catch up.

Yes, 2014-15 saw masterful Mourinho live up to his "Special One" sobriquet by melding key signings Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa with his existing squad and getting the best once more from captain, leader, legend John Terry. The Portuguese certainly has the players to repeat the success next season -- but there's more to it now.

Not only is Chelsea's first team excelling, but the football club are enjoying unparalleled success at every level with the under-19 side winning the UEFA Youth League and the under-18s triumphing in the FA Youth Cup. Whether any of these younger players, or the many starlets out on loan with other clubs, will make the grade at Stamford Bridge is consistently open to question -- but the point is that the investment Blues owner Roman Abramovich has made in developing the Academy is paying dividends that will have a tangible benefit in more ways than one.

Several youngsters might break through into the first team, several may be sold on -- and these two points highlight the real reason Chelsea's rivals have reason to be fearful for the future. Abramovich's backroom executive team headed by Marina Granovskaia have a formidable understanding of the machinations of UEFA's financial fair play regulations. And Chelsea's transfer dealings and contractual negotiations have been peerless for the past 18 months.

The high-profile comings and goings in the Stamford Bridge dressing room have been an even mix of phenomenal sale fees: David Luiz (50 million), Juan Mata (37 million), Romelu Lukaku (28 million). And what look like astute buys: Diego Costa (32 million), Cesc Fabregas (26 million). While Mourinho has fettled his squad, and will continue to do so -- elsewhere, there seems to be less thought and planning.

Manchester United squandered almost 60 million on midfield misfit Angel Di Maria and signed Colombian striker Radamel Falcao, who has not been a success. What will Red Devils manager Louis van Gaal be doing this summer? Rebuilding again? That takes time.

Manchester City and Arsenal have a different type of problem to consider. While Van Gaal appears to have the strength and depth of character to get United to perform once he has the right players, Manuel Pellegrini at City and Arsenal's Arsene Wenger have the look of yesterday's men, ill-equipped psychologically to take on Mourinho. Managerial changes look on the cards at the Etihad, and maybe in the near future the Emirates and that does not guarantee immediate success.

Liverpool's historical pedigree of top-flight glory is becoming sepia-tinged with every passing year, and with Brendan Rodgers at the helm there is little to suggest the Anfield club are capable of mounting a challenge that will go the distance any time soon.

If Chelsea are set for a period of prolonged Premier League dominance they should be applauded for it. In the context of the modern game, the Stamford Bridge house is very much in order and deficiencies elsewhere are, well, just that -- deficiencies. No doubt they will be addressed, but for now the Blues are in control of their destiny. That's not boring, that's life.

The tactical keys to Chelsea's Premier League-winning campaign

Jose Mourinho lauded his Chelsea players for the determination, quality and consistency that secured the Blues' fourth Premier League title, following a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace.

In the age of tactical flexibility and squad rotation, Chelsea's title has been built on old-fashioned principles. Jose Mourinho has stuck to the same 4-2-3-1 framework throughout the campaign and has used the same players: three are ever-presents in the Premier League, 10 have started at least 26 games and an 11th, Diego Costa, would surely have done likewise but for injuries and suspension.

Chelsea's triumph has been based on key performers playing key roles and, tactically, six men have been particularly important.

Costa starts at speedMourinho's increasingly regular complaint last season was that he had no striker. He set about remedying that by signing Diego Costa and, while the Spain international has only struck twice since the middle of January as his appearances have become rarities due to injury and suspension, he set the tone for the campaign with a superb start. Costa scored seven goals in his first four games, including two in the 6-3 win at Everton and a hat-trick in a 4-2 defeat of Swansea.

His shot map from those four games shows that the former Atletico Madrid forward was the penalty-box poacher Chelsea had lacked. Six of those seven goals came from 13 yards out or less and his long-range strike was from only 15. Costa rarely shoots from outside the box, but began in deadly fashion inside it.

Despite the recent suggestions Chelsea are boring, it is worth remembering they were prolific when Costa was a regular. After 22 league games, they had scored 51 goals, with him responsible for 17. He has only appeared in five of the subsequent 13 games, in which Chelsea have scored just 18 times.

It is also significant that Mourinho values a good start more than virtually any other manager. His teams tend to be front-runners in title races and prefer to have an advantage from an early stage. After four games of 2014-15, Chelsea were already five points ahead of Manchester City, six clear of Arsenal and seven better off than Manchester United.

Fabregas adds inventionIf Mourinho addressed one weakness in his side by recruiting Costa, he rectified another by bringing in Cesc Fabregas, his other biggest summer signing, as a supply line. The two have formed a productive partnership; no other player has set up six league goals for the same teammate this season while Fabregas has provided another four for Eden Hazard.Indeed, when Costa stopped scoring, the playmaker recorded fewer assists, leading Mourinho to defend him because, he said, he was still providing the passes. While it is looking less likely Fabregas will beat his former Arsenal team-mate Thierry Henry's Premier League record of 20 assists in a season, his total of 17 remains remarkable.

A map of where he was when he supplied those assists is instructive: Chelsea lacked creativity in the centre of midfield last season and Fabregas has showed he can be incisive from deeper positions. Indeed, he provided one pass -- for Costa and against Arsenal -- from within his own half.

It is also notable that five of those assists have come from corners. Chelsea do not overlook the basics and excel at set-pieces. They have plenty of goalscoring defenders, but Fabregas is their supply line.

Hazard hits the heightsThe PFA Player of the Year is the favourite to win the Football Writers' award as well and yet, if those amount to recognition of the entire season, the Belgian has peaked at vital periods. Whereas Costa and Fabregas started superbly, only two of Hazard's goals came before November. Overall, he has been more potent this season and totals of 14 goals and eight assists show he can both create and finish.

Hazard is also two players in one, as his touch map for the whole season shows. He can hug the left touchline, stretching the game, which is particularly useful because Chelsea have a left-back, in Cesar Azpilicueta, who offers less width than many of his counterparts around the league.

Where Hazard is at his most dangerous, however, is coming infield into the inside-left channel. It was from there, for instance, that Hazard burst into the box to score his winner against Manchester United last month. The 24-year-old shoots almost exclusively from within 30 yards, within the width of the penalty box and normally on the left half of the pitch.

His combination of close control, ability to beat a man and shoot on his preferred right foot makes him particularly deadly from that area and also poses opponents questions regarding which of four players -- right-back, right-sided centre-back, right winger or right-sided central midfielder -- picks him up. Too often they don't have an adequate answer.

Matic the mobile destroyerWhile Costa and Fabregas arrived last summer, arguably Mourinho's planning for this campaign began in earnest in January 2014 when he brought Nemanja Matic back to Stamford Bridge.The Serb has gone on to establish himself as the foremost defensive midfielder in the Premier League, winning the most tackles in the division this season. What a diagram of those tackles shows is that he is a very mobile destroyer, capable of getting out to the flanks to win the ball back and, in the process, arguably doing some of Hazard's defensive duties, as well as acting as a shield for his central defenders.

Mourinho, whose team beat Manchester United when they had the ball for just 29 percent of the game, has been publicly sceptical about passing statistics and Matic illustrates why. He enables Chelsea to win the ball back or to play without it. His positional discipline is also apparent: while he may roam from touchline to touchline, he rarely enters the final third. In other words, he is always in a position to recover.

Terry has been terrificWhen Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge in 2013, John Terry had finished a season where, due to injuries, suspension and the selections of Roberto Di Matteo and, in particular, Rafa Benitez, he had only started 11 league games. It seemed the captain was in decline and being phased out.

Those notions look wildly wrong now. Terry is an ever present in the Premier League and, having been Chelsea's third-choice centre-back, is now widely described as the division's finest. Mourinho said the 34-year-old's performance in April's 0-0 draw at Arsenal as his best in either of his spells at the club.

A map of Terry's clearances at the Emirates Stadium illustrates how busy he was and also shows how Mourinho has made the most of his assets -- heading, almost flawless positional play and concentration -- without his greatest weakness, a lack of pace, being exposed.

Chelsea often defend deep, so there is little room behind Terry for a speedy striker to accelerate into. He actually patrols a comparatively small area, with a defensive-minded, right-footed left-back, Azpilicueta tucked in alongside him and the division's best defensive midfielder, Matic, directly in front of him as the left of the duo in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

But Terry, and the defence as a whole, are a major reason why Chelsea have held their nerve in the run-in and at a time when they have been less prolific in front of goal. Since the 5-3 defeat at Tottenham on New Year's Day, which looks a freak result, they have only conceded twice in a league game once -- a 3-2 win at Hull -- and have only conceded eight times in 15 games overall.

Ivanovic offers energySome Chelsea players can be described as two players in one -- Hazard is a winger and a goalscoring inside-forward while Fabregas is a deep-lying playmaker and a goal creator -- and Branislav Ivanovic is another. The Serb has spent some of the title run-in as a right-back who rarely crossed the halfway line, tucking in alongside centre-back Gary Cahill to deny Manchester United and Arsenal space as each was shut out.

On other occasions, he can be perhaps the most marauding, buccaneering right-back in the division. Ivanovic's total of four goals and four assists shows he possesses more attacking threat than many a midfielder; arguably, indeed, than Chelsea's right-sided midfielders. Andre Schurrle and Mohamed Salah have left, Juan Cuadrado rarely plays and Willian is much less creative than his left-sided counterpart, Hazard.

Then look at Ivanovic's pitch map from the 5-0 win at Swansea in January. He was on the ball four times in the Swans' 18-yard box and set up Schurrle's goal. Two years ago, Ivanovic was Chelsea's first-choice centre-back but now he can pose more of a threat than many a winger. It shows the range of his talents.

John Terry: Chelsea title success marks start of a new era

John Terry believes Chelsea's first Premier League title win in five years is just the start of a new era of success at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea captain Terry will lift the Premier League trophy for a fourth time on May 24 after Sunday's 1-0 win over Crystal Palace gave Jose Mourinho's men an unassailable lead with three games to spare.

Terry has been an integral member of Chelsea's squad for more than a decade and has played every minute of all 35 of their Premier League matches this season.

The 34-year-old, who has already signed a new contract until the end of next season, is optimistic the current squad can replicate the achievements of Mourinho's first side, which won the 2004-05 Premier League, with many of those players still present for the 2012 Champions League win.

"This is the start of a new group, a new era, and for sure this current group are going to go on to win many more trophies for the club," Terry told Chelsea TV. "This is a tough trophy to win. It's been five years since we won it. It will take a few days to sink in. It's been a long time. We've been great this season, we fully deserve it. Absolutely delighted to get it."

Terry has 14 major trophies with Chelsea and he added: "Still going -- hopefully there's many more to come as well. With the squad we've got, who knows? "We've showed great strength and character this year to come and do it."

He reserved special praise for Mourinho, who now has three Premier League titles after switching to a more pragmatic approach as the title drew near. "He's been brilliant," Terry said. "He deserves a lot more respect as well. We've been top since day one. It's a big feat to do that. We've done it right from the start."He deserves an awful lot of credit and his team around him. Teams come here and make it difficult, sit behind the ball. "He finds a way to break them down. That's why he's the best. We love working with him."

Didier Drogba is another survivor from the Mourinho side that won Chelsea's first championship in 50 years a decade ago. The 37-year-old striker returned to Stamford Bridge last summer after two years away and could leave the Blues again at the end of the season when his contract expires."I told you when I signed here I come here because I want to win the league again," Drogba said. "The last time we won [in 2010] I was here. I was very happy. It's a special day again."

Frank Lampard, who scored the two goals at Bolton in April 2005 that earned Chelsea the title that year, has spent the season at Manchester City after his 13-year stay at Stamford Bridge ended last summer. Lampard wrote on Instagram: "A massive congratulations to all my old teammates and friends at @chelseafc for winning the Premier League."A huge achievement and well deserved by everyone at the club. Also to all those fantastic fans that I had the pleasure to play for for 13 years. I know how much it means to you all!"

Terry's central defensive partner Gary Cahill won the FA Cup and European Cup within six months of moving to Stamford Bridge from Bolton in January 2012. He has had to wait a further three years to win the Premier League, though, and Terry said: "He's won everything. He's been brilliant since he arrived. I love playing alongside him."We've got a great partnership on and off the field as well. He's got many more years than me here, for sure."

Cahill addressed the criticism Chelsea have received for favoring substance over style in recent weeks. "We've shown this season what we're capable of at times," he said. "Winning well, playing great football, and also digging in when we need to. We've got both aspects of the game in this squad and hopefully we can win many more."

Chelsea's Premier League title win has been solid but not spectacularEden Hazard's header following a saved penalty was enough to secure Chelsea's fourth Premier League title.In recent Premier League campaigns, we've been treated to some outstanding end-of-season drama.

Sergio Aguero's 94th-minute winner against QPR to seal the 2011-12 title for Manchester City was the most incredible clincher in the Premier League era, while other run-ins have also been memorable: Chelsea sealed the title in 2009-10 with an 8-0 victory on the final day, and Manchester United's 2013 triumph was clinched with a Robin van Persie strike that was voted goal of the season.

Even when the clinching game wasn't memorable in itself, the run-in as a whole was often superb. Manchester United recorded a fine 2-1 victory over Chelsea to effectively win the title in 2010-11, while Liverpool's astonishing collapses last season against Chelsea and Crystal Palace will live long in the memory. Put simply, it's been a while since the title was won in an efficient, comfortable and inevitable manner.

There was something inevitable about the bitty, unspectacular way Chelsea hauled themselves over the finishing line on Sunday: an Eden Hazard header -- from an Eden Hazard missed penalty that had been won by Eden Hazard -- sealed a narrow and slightly fortunate 1-0 victory.

Then nothing much happened and Jose Mourinho took off two attacking midfielders for two defensive midfielders. Defensive rigidity, combined with individual magic from the league's best footballer, is a perfect summary of Chelsea's title victory. It works neatly for champions who won't be remembered fondly. In truth, this team won't earn the credit they deserve because, from start to finish this season, Mourinho's men have been the best team in the division.

Chelsea have effectively been top every week -- in the first three weeks only goal difference meant they weren't literally No. 1 -- but since Week 4 they've been at the summit after each of their matches. They started on pole position and have lapped the field.

Enthralling in the first few months, Chelsea eventually depended on clean sheets more than goals, and it's difficult to remember a more settled defence in recent Premier League history.

This quartet of Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill, John Terry and Cesar Azpilicueta is unchanged from last season, to the extent that Filipe Luis has been unable to get into the side at left-back because of Azpilicueta's continued excellence on the "wrong" side of the pitch.

If an unchanged defence feels like something of a throwback, the Spaniard embodies that feeling too: a full-back selected primarily for his defensive abilities and, in particular, his one-on-one brilliance.

Azpilicueta isn't a natural left-back, and Ivanovic isn't a natural right-back. He's happier in the centre of defence, which means both full-backs tuck inside and defend narrow, helping the centre-backs. Terry has been a supreme leader and his performance in a goalless draw at Arsenal last week was as good a defensive performance as you'll ever see. Cahill and Kurt Zouma have played a decent supporting role.

The midfield combination, too, has often worked beautifully. Mourinho has certainly become more cautious in the second half of the campaign, but the relationship between Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas was highly impressive before Christmas. The Serbian boasts the strength and the positional sense to command the centre of the pitch solo, as well as an ability to stroke neat left-footed passes into attack.

Then there was Fabregas, a distinctly "un-Mourinho" player who combined the guile in deep positions from his teenage years with his off-the-ball running and contribution in the final third of recent seasons. The separation of duties was clear; this was no double pivot, but a straightforward defensive-attacking split between two midfielders at the top of their game.

Eden Hazard was a dribbler, assister and goal scorer combined, while Diego Costa provided the biggest difference between last season and this: a constant source of goals. Capable of running the channels on the break or thriving on crosses, his ruthless and sheer nastiness epitomise Mourinho's demands.

Chelsea's huge winning margin certainly owes something to the shortcomings of their major rivals. Manchester City were ready to challenge midway through the campaign, but dropped off dramatically, seemingly because they lack the ruthless determination of Mourinho, Terry and Chelsea.

Arsenal, meanwhile, made a horrendous start to the campaign for no good reason, and by the time they lost 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in their seventh game, they were already nine points behind and never realistic title rivals.Manchester United also started poorly when Louis van Gaal was struggling to communicate his approach to the players, while Liverpool's inability to replicate Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge's goal-scoring tally from last season meant they were also nonstarters.

There was no challenge; Chelsea are in a class of their own. Besides, almost every season supporters attempt to detract from the title winners' achievements by questioning their rivals, as if there was some golden age with half-a-dozen sides of title-winning quality. There wasn't, and this Chelsea would be champions in the vast majority of Premier League campaigns.

But what Chelsea have lacked -- in part because they've won the Premier League so easily -- has been a defining moment. Everyone can remember a brilliant counterattacking goal from the Cristiano Ronaldo-era Manchester United, a classic Arsenal passing move from the "Invincibles" or a nicely worked team goal from Manchester City's victorious sides.

From this season, it's difficult to find anything particularly memorable. Arsene Wenger's recent comment that a 1-0 Chelsea victory was "the usual" was primarily a joke taken slightly too seriously, but there's also a degree of truth.It's been an understated, consistent and sometimes dull title win. There has been no standout goal, no crushing victory over their rivals and no single dramatic moment. Import last season's 6-0 thrashing of Arsenal, and it's a different situation.

Which is not to say this is a criticism, more simply a realistic prediction of this side's legacy. Historically, football teams are remembered in snapshots, because it's impossible to remember 38 games, nearly twice as many goals and the contributions of 20 players.

We need moments and, because Chelsea didn't provide those, they will therefore be somewhat forgotten.