King Carlo brings home the Lottie

This banner at the Stamford Bridge on Sunday personified the enormity of what was achieved on Sunday. After a gap of three years the fans at the Bridge seemed to have taken a liking to a manager who can deliver both titles and also the “beautiful football” that their owner craves for. Finally the ghost of Mourinho had been banished from the Chelsea dressing room. For the past three years Chelsea seemed to be a team struggling to break free from the Mourinho era and move forward. Every manager who came there had to be work in the ever present shadow of the special one. With this title triumph Chelsea can now step forward and embrace the new era under Ancelotti.

What did Carlo manage to do that completely transformed this team from under achievers in the last three seasons to champions this season? There weren’t that many additions to the squad with the only notable signings being Yuri Zhirkov and Daniel Sturridge, both of whom played a minor role during the course of the season. Most important was giving the freedom to the players to express themselves. Ashley Cole seemed to back to his best this season (I mean the on field performance) and Ivanovic whenever he player was always a threat with his marauding runs down the right flank. This was reminiscent of the heady old days of 2003-2005 when Damien Duff, and Arjen Robben plied their trade here with booming crosses for the strikers to capitalise on.

Another significant factor was the form of Florent Malouda who seemed to be playing the role that Robben performed with panache (I still think Robben shouldn’t have been sold to Madrid). A decent left winger was always lacking for the last two seasons and Malouda steeped up to the mark this season. As always Lampard had another twenty goal season which has been the case for the last five years. Had it not been for a specific Ronaldo he might well be acknowledged as the world’s best midfielder for his goal scoring exploits.

It must also be mentioned that it wasn’t Chelsea’s prowess that ensured that they won the title. The other title rivals have all been below par. Manchester United have been a pale shadow of themselves this season and Arsenal as always contrive to fall short. Liverpool, the lesser said about them the better. Also the chasing pack has caught up with Tottenham into the Champions League next season and Manchester City with their big bucks will be up there competing with the present Big Three (it’s no more a Big Four according to me) even though they missed out this season. Aston Villa and Everton will need some strengthening of their squads to be right up there and compete with the top teams even though they are capable of beating any team on their day.

On the whole, Chelsea were deserving winner when you look at the entire season. Except for a brief period in between they always had their noses in front of their rivals, scored a record breaking number of goals, their goal keeper had the most number of clean sheets, their striker won the Golden Boot and they finished with a record goal difference. Boring Boring Chelsea the fans chanted with sarcasm at the Bridge on Sunday. Chelsea seem to have struck the right note with a manager who seems intent on satisfying the owner’s wishes for an identity for the football club, and at the same time also deliver the trophies that matter.