The 9 moments which delivered the title for Chelsea

Updated 12/05/2017 at 20:52 GMT

Pete Sharland takes you through the key moments and decisions which gave Chelsea their sixth league title.

Antonio Conte, N'Golo Kante and Diego Costa

Image credit: Eurosport

1. Appointing Antonio Conte

The first, and moment important, moment came in April last year, when Chelsea confirmed that Antonio Conte was the manager they had chosen to be the permanent replacement for Jose Mourinho.

Put aside how Conte has dragged this team up from mid-table to top of the tree for one moment and consider his influence off the field.

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In so many aspects Conte is the opposite to Mourinho; he is a gentlemen, courteous to players and journalists and never abrupt or rude about other managers. It is notable how Chelsea just feels like a far happier club this season.

2. Beating Arsenal to N’Golo Kante

N'Golo Kante (via PFA)

Image credit: Eurosport

Only one player of Leicester’s title-winning side left and they have dropped from first to ninth as things stand. Meanwhile Chelsea have risen from 10th to first.

Of course it’s not all down to N’Golo Kante but his impact on Chelsea has been absolutely incredible. Bar one or two matches this season he has dominated in more or less every game and that has been particularly important given Nemanja Matic’s struggles and Cesc Fabregas’ lack of defensive work.

Kante was rightly named as the PFA Player of the Year and made it a double when he was also named the FWA Player of the Year, a sign of the esteem in which he is held. Think of how different this season could have been had Arsenal won the race for Kante…

3. Bringing back David Luiz

Chelsea's David Luiz celebrates after the game with Cesar Azpilicueta

Image credit: Reuters

David Luiz has surprised everyone with his performances since returning to the club from Paris Saint-Germain in a £32m deal and it turns out that playing as part of a back three and working under Conte was all he needed to become a world-class central defender.

However off the field he may have had a bigger impact. Continuing on the earlier theme that Chelsea seem happier a lot of that could be down to Luiz. His team-mates have spoken of how his personality is great to have around and he may have filled the gap that emerged when Didier Drogba left the club after the 2014/15 title success.

4. The Arsenal defeat and tactical switch

Theo Walcott of Arsenal celebrates scoring his sides second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium

Image credit: Getty Images

When Conte first came to England it was widely expected he would use three central defenders. However the Italian stressed that wouldn’t necessarily be the case, pointing to when he first joined Juventus and managed Bari, preferring to use a 4-2-4.

In fact neither were used and Conte stuck with Chelsea’s preferred formation of 4-2-3-1. If they had not been beaten and humiliated by Arsenal in a devastating opening 45 minutes at the Emirates that system may have remained.

But they were savaged by Arsenal and Conte went into brutal mode. Captain John Terry was left out as were Branislav Ivanovic and Oscar whilst Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses came in at wing-back to great effect. Now the system is being adopted up and down the division, including by Arsene Wenger. Conte didn’t invent the system, but he set the trend this year

5. Beating Manchester City home and away

Pedro of Chelsea celerbates after the Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester City

Image credit: Getty Images

The win against Tottenham Hotspur in November was key, particularly because Chelsea didn’t play particularly well, but beating Manchester City home and away was crucial. Last season Chelsea were turned over 3-0 home and away by City and on both occasions City put down a marker.

In the first game it was their first victory away from home against a big team, following up that win against Spurs, and the second came just a few days after losing to Crystal Palace. The Palace defeat was a shock to everyone’s system. It was only Chelsea’s second defeat of 2017 and this was a Palace team, who despite an upturn in form, were expected to be beaten pretty easily.

Combined with Spurs’ incredible run, suddenly the title race looked wide open again, particularly with City visiting Stamford Bridge. To come away with a win, again having not played exceptionally well, was massive.

6. Revitalising the Spanish core

Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea – Middlesbrough)

Image credit: Getty Images

With the signing of Marcos Alonso over the summer Chelsea’s Spanish contingent rose to five but at various stages it could have been less, with the only member certain of his place being Cesar Azpilicueta.

However Conte has finally made Pedro look like a man who won the Champions League with Barcelona, he has coaxed 20 goals out of Diego Costa, and dealt with a winter transfer saga admirably, whilst his transformation of Cesc Fabregas from midfield liability to super-sub general responsible for unlocking defences is remarkable.

7. Giving Gary Cahill the captaincy

Gary Cahill

Image credit: Getty Images

When it became clear that neither Terry nor Ivanovic featured in Conte’s first-choice team, with the latter leaving in January, Conte had a decision to make over his captain.

There were certainly a few options within the squad such as Azpilicueta, Matic and Fabregas but he went for Cahill, and he’s been rewarded for his choice.

Not only have Cahill’s performances stepped up from last season as he has become the leader of the team, he has also scored crucial goals at crucial moments, just like Terry did, and he is the one driving the team on during difficult moments.

8. West Ham ending Spurs' winning run

Christian Eriksen (Tottenham) looks dismayed

Image credit: Getty Images

Chelsea fans were confident going into the final few weeks of the season but there was a slight sense of apprehension given Spurs' incredible run. Mauricio Pochettino's men won nine Premier League games in a row between February and May and it almost felt as the momentum that was with them could see them overhaul the Blues.

The trip to the London Stadium, where West Ham shut them down superbly, handed the title to Chelsea. Their remaining fixtures were already easy, but with the added cushion of Spurs losing those games looked a lot easier.

9. Michy Batshuayi's late goal

Chelsea's Michy Batshuayi celebrates scoring their first goal with Victor Moses

Image credit: Reuters

Chelsea only needed to win at West Brom to wrap up the title on Friday night but it seemed they would be frustrated as the clock ticked past 80 minutes with the game still goalless. But then up popped the most unlikely of heroes: Michy Batshuayi, who scored only his second league goal of the season.

Conte went crazy on the touchline as he knew what it meant: Chelsea were champions.

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