Eden Hazard’s header on the stroke of half-time was enough to secure Chelsea’s fourth Premier League following their 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at the ecstatic Stamford Bridge. The Belgian’s penalty was saved by Palace keeper Julian Speroni, but the Argentine had no chance of saving the rebound which was neatly tucked away in the bottom corner.
The victory gave Jose Mourinho his eighth league title as a manager his third as a Chelsea manager and the first in his second spell in charge of the Blues. Despite suffering their third successive defeat, the Eagles remain safely in mid-table, still with an opportunity to finish the season as high as ninth.
Here are the major talking points from the game.
Chelsea are deserving champions
While claims that Chelsea are ‘boring’ are open to interpretation, one matter is not up for debate. It is that the Blues are deserving champions. While the rest of the chasing pack have stuttered and stumbled, the way in which Jose Mourinho’s side have nonchalantly strode across the finish line to claim their fourth Premier League title shows they have been the best side in the league. While it is true that they have won their last seven games by just a solitary goal, people are quick to forget their early season form, that saw them score goals for fun.
It was only following the 5-3 defeat to Tottenham on New Years’ Day that Mourinho decided to err on the side of caution. And that was also the time when Diego Costa’s injuries started to bother him and Cesc Fabregas form started to take a dip. In an age of mega squads, it is important to note that the Blues have won the title despite using just 22 players, the least of any team in the league. Fatigue, injuries and suspensions might have ensured that they labored across the finish line, the fact that they were able to shows their resilience and strength, something Arsenal and the two Manchester clubs could certainly do with.
Is it time to let Speroni go?
Despite scoring more goals than anyone barring Everton in the bottom half of the league, Crystal Palace’s defensive record is nothing to be proud of. They have only kept six clean sheets in the league this season. Four of those were nil-nil draws and the other two were against Leicester, who only just made their way out of the relegation zone. And in Julian Speroni they have a keeper, who doesn’t always inspire confidence. Although the Argentine shot-stopper has been at the club for over a decade, he hasn’t always been consistent.
While the 35-year-old can pull out some eye-catching saves from time to time, he doesn’t command his box well enough and is often easily beaten on one-on-ones. On Sunday, he flapped at crosses, made hard work of simple shots and let in a penalty that should have been saved. While a better performance might not have been enough to prevent defeat against the champions, it is the sort of thing that might make a difference next season, when the Eagles look to push for a top-half finish. If Palace do harbor any hopes of making their way into the top 10, they will need to defend better and they can start by getting in a reliable replacement for Speroni.
Pardew’s stock continues to rise
When Alan Pardew left Newcastle United for Crystal Palace, some questioned his reasoning. While the Magpies were well clear of the relegation zone, Palace were in the bottom three when he took over. Yet, they went into the game against Chelsea knowing that a win will lift them to within two points off a top 10 place. Something that not even the most optimistic of Palace supporters would have imagined.
Although their chances of finishing in the top 10 have taken a hit following the defeat, the simple fact that they sit in 12th, with no relegation fears, playing with wonderful attacking football highlights just how much Pardew has improved the Eagles. The challenge now for the manager will be to continue that for the rest of the season and aim for a top-half finish next time around. If they are to have any chance of doing that, they need to hold onto their tricky and skillful wingers Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie. If they can do that, improve their home form and make a couple of useful additions, then even a push for the final European spot isn’t out of the question.