Chelsea break records to win title
Coach Carlo Ancelotti guided the Blues to their first Championship success since 2006 in his debut season in England as Chelsea took their tally to 103 goals - the highest in the Premier League since Manchester United in 2000 and the first to achieve the century since Tottenham in 1962-63.
United's victory over Stoke at Old Trafford was irrelevant as the Blues finished the season one point clear of their rivals.
Ancelotti's side smashed home seven or more goals for the fourth time this season as Wigan, who had defender Gary Caldwell sent-off on the half-hour, simply capitulated.
A hat-trick from Golden Boot winner Didier Drogba, who finished the season with 29 league goals, two from Nicolas Anelka, a Frank Lampard penalty and others from Salomon Kalou and Ashley Cole, left Chelsea champions and on the brink of a League and FA Cup double.
Rock-band by Guitarist Drogba and Drummer Malouda.
Only Portsmouth now stand in their way of a history-making season for Ancelotti and his team.
The Blues will become only the seventh team in the history of the game to win both competitions if they can overcome Avram Grant's side at Wembley next week.
The Blues were given the best possible start by France international Nicolas Anelka.
The striker, expected to sign a new two-year contract once the season is over, collected a knock down from Florent Malouda to fire past Wigan goalkeeper Mike Pollitt.
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez caused a stir by playing three in defence and for the next 25 minutes they gave Chelsea and their fans some anxious moments.
But the game changed on a pivotal penalty on the half-hour when Lampard was clearly brought down by Wigan defender Caldwell.
Referee Martin Atkinson then produced the red-card for the unfortunate centre-half.
Drogba, chasing the Premier League Golden Boot and level on 26 goals with United's Wayne Rooney, asked Lampard to let him take the spot-kick but the England international rejected his request.
Superb 21st goaled by Lampard
Drogba was distinctly unhappy with Lampard's answer and had to be calmed down by other members of the Chelsea side.
Lampard duly put the penalty into the bottom corner to leave Chelsea in control of their own destiny at half-time.
In the 54th minute the title was sealed as Lampard and Kalou combined for the Ivory Coast international to almost walk the ball into the net.
Two minutes later Chelsea's fans were in dreamland when a cross from Branislav Ivanovic was volleyed home at the far post by Anelka.
With the title now Chelsea's, the only remaining issue to be settled was Drogba and his hunt for the Golden Boot.
That was settled in the 63rd minute when the Ivorian rose highest at the far post to head Lampard's cross into the net and make it 5-0.
It got better for Drogba five minutes later when Cole was brought down and Lampard tossed the ball to Drogba so he could take the penalty.
The Ivorian's spot-kick went in off the post but it mattered littler to Drogba who had taken his tally to the season in the league to 28.
Ancelotti was hailed by the home fans and for the first time in the game the Italian responded by waving to the supporters chanting his name.
Drogba completed his hat-trick 10 minutes from the end of the game as Chelsea made it seven in a game for the fourth time this season.
Substitute Joe Cole's shot was parried by Pollitt but the ball fell kindly to the lurking Drogba who tucked it home for his 29th league strike of the season.
The goal sparked more cheering of Ancelotti but Wigan, who had not tested Petr Cech at all during the one-side contest, finally forced him into action when the Czech international tipped a goalbound shot from substitute Victor Moses over the bar in the 87th minute.
Cole completed the rout when he volleyed home in the final minute to make it 8-0 and as the champagne was sprayed over Ancelotti, the Italian had clearly banished the ghost of Jose Mourinho.
The day belonged to Ancelotti and his attacking side as Chelsea were crowned deserved champions for the fourth time in their history.
Terry hails title success
Chelsea captain John Terry celebrated the end of ''a hard three years'' as his side finally reclaimed the Premier League trophy.
''It's about Chelsea Football Club and our day today. It's been a hard three years, not winning the Premier League, but we've done it today and we deserved it.
''It's been inside of me for three years, seeing Man United lift it season after season and every single one of us has sat there and watched it. And now it's their turn to sit there and watch us today.''
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti told Sky Sports 1: ''It's fantastic, we did our best and I did my best for this club. There's a fantastic atmosphere at this club, with these supporters, and I think we deserved to win the championship after this season. We are very happy.
''There are a lot of things we're happy about. We're happy for this record, for Didier being the top scorer, but the most important thing is that we showed some good play.''
Asked about matching Jose Mourinho's legacy, the Italian said: ''Mourinho did some fantastic work and won two titles consecutively. This is my first and I hope to do the same as Mourinho. Now we have the opportunity to win the double and I hope that my players can, after these celebrations.''
''It has been right up there because of the way we've done it, we finished the season in style. It's been a great Premier League season and I think in the end we deserved to come out on top.''
Asked about Drogba's childish reaction to being denied the chance to take the first penalty to make it 2-0, Lampard said: ''It was nothing. That's what makes Didier what he is. He's hungry.
''It's 1-0, I've been taking the penalties all season and I wanted to score to make it 2-0. Once we went clear then I was more than happy for Didier to go and try to win the Golden Boot. We're a team and we want him to do well. He did it and he deserved to be top scorer.
''Drogba himself was apologetic afterwards.''
I understood,'' he told Sky Sports 1 about the first penalty. ''But at the same time I was disappointed because at 1-0 I wanted to score. I had to get over this frustration and in the second half come back.
''We did so well today I knew I would have some chances to score. I was not happy at first but after, I knew I was making a big mistake and Frank was right.''
From Soccernet.com
More report on the game at
http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10268~2047727,00.html
And complete Chelsea Statistics
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/team/stats?id=363&season=2009&league=eng.1&cc=4716
Owh well,owh well..sgt gembira.even we were knocked out from Champions League,xpelah.it was Jose who beat us..still yet another Cup for us to put in our trophy cabinet..tak tau nk kata apa lagi.but WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS..tak kesah lah bila ke tahun depan nanti ke..tapi tahun ni yang kisah..hahaha~~
CHELSEA FC ARE 2009/2010
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE WINNERS!!!
menang! menang!
ReplyDeletei like the 'rock band' celebration.
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