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5 key games that won Chelsea the title

By Gabe Henderson

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 26: A Chelsea flag is waved during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on November 26, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 26: A Chelsea flag is waved during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on November 26, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images) /
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Let’s take a look back at the most influential matches of Chelsea’s trophy-winning campaign following their title-clinching win at the Hawthorns.

Chelsea have found massive success under manager Antonio Conte this season. The Italian has brought a title to Stamford Bridge, the sixth league title in the club’s history, and hopes to bring in another trophy by the end of the season in the FA Cup.

The Blues have stooped no lower than eighth in the table, two spots above where they finished last season. Conte inherited the same core who won the league in 2014-15 and posted history’s worst title defense in 2015-16.

The Italian was criticized for his seemingly bad transfer window in the summer, but it’s payed off. Conte has revamped the careers of David Luiz, Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses, all of whom have played a vital role for the Blues this season.

Conte’s Blues started the season a little shakily, but once the Italian changed the formation to a 3-4-3, Chelsea never looked back. The Blues tied a Premier League record by winning 13 consecutive games, only to fall one short of breaking the record at White Hart Lane.

The title race intensified down the stretch, but Chelsea never broke down. A 1-0 win over Boro in week 12 elevated Chelsea to the top of the league and they never looked back.

We’re going to re-live the five most influential matches of the Blues’ historic league season.

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 23: Gary Cahill of Chelsea jumps on tops as N’golo Kante of Chelsea celebrates with his team mates after he scores to make it 4-0 during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on October 23, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 23: Gary Cahill of Chelsea jumps on tops as N’golo Kante of Chelsea celebrates with his team mates after he scores to make it 4-0 during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on October 23, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images) /

5. Chelsea 4-0 Manchester United (Oct. 23)

Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho made his first appearance back at Stamford Bridge after being sacked the previous season. However, 11 months removed from his Chelsea departure, Mourinho stood on the visitor’s touchline as the new manager of Manchester United.

Mourinho was tasked with finding a way to break down a Chelsea defense that had recorded two consecutive clean sheets. While the Blues were not yet atop the league, their match against United was thought to be Chelsea’s first real test since switching to the 3-4-3 formation.

Chelsea were coming off a 2-0 away win against Hull and a 3-0 thrashing of defending champions Leicester. The Blues had switched to the 3-4-3 formation for the Hull game and as a result, looked untouchable. Of course, for Mourinho, a win at his old stomping grounds would mean a lot more than simply getting his team back on track.

However, the Blues had other plans.

Chelsea winger Pedro slipped in behind the United defense and beat keeper David de Gea for an open shot to give Chelsea a 1-0 lead less than a minute into the match.

Eventually, Gary Cahill (21′), Eden Hazard (62′) and N’Golo Kante (70′) helped Chelsea cruise to a dominant 4-0 win. From start to finish, Conte’s squad looked far superior to Mourinho’s.

Chelsea players and fans alike, following the conclusion of the United game, began to believe in the team. Ultimately, the win over United showed people the brilliance of Conte’s 3-4-3 formation and the way his players ran it. To not only beat the Special One, a tactical mastermind, but to embarrass him to the point where he asked Conte to stop celebrating; that’s special.

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