Jose Mourinho feels Chelsea are deserved champions as they clinched their first Premier League title in five years with a win over Crystal Palace.
Eden Hazard’s goal on the verge of half time proved the difference and earned the Blues their fourth Premier League title and their third under Mourinho.
Having topped the table since August and only losing twice in the league this season, Mourinho hailed his side as worthy winners of the trophy.
“When you work so hard and you are champions you feel you got what you deserved, it’s a good feeling,” he said.
“I’m so happy to win another Premier League title in my second spell at the club. I will try for another one.
“What the players are feeling now is fantastic, they deserve it and now they can relax.”
Palace fans picked up the ‘boring boring Chelsea’ chant that Arsenal fans coined a week ago only for it to fall on deaf ears as an ecstatic Stamford Bridge celebrated.
On a day Floyd Mayweather, also criticised as ‘boring’, asserted his status as the best boxer on the planet, Chelsea also used a defensive masterclass to secure their place as the best team in England.
After Hazard’s goal, a header which came from a rebound of his missed penalty, Mourinho brought on John Obi Mikel in a familiar attempt to protect Chelsea’s one goal lead.
Despite a decent run of form and plenty of intent, Palace were unable to breach the hosts’ formidable back-line, which holds the best defensive record in the league this season having shipped 27 goals.
With three league games still to play, Mourinho felt his team’s performance against Palace exemplified the high standard they have demonstrated all season.
“We showed absolutely everything football demands from a team since day one,” he said.
“The game today was a good example, Crystal Palace gave us a counter-attack game, we coped with that.
“Palace played like it was a crucial game for them and that was the pure feelings of football, we have to do the same in our three remaining matches.
“We did everything a team needs to do. That’s why we are champions and why we deserve to be champions, I think everybody knows that.”
Palace boss Alan Pardew praised Chelsea’s ability to adapt as well as the way they denied his side a chance of getting an equaliser.
“They’re a team that can function in any scenario,” he said.
“They kept the ball and frustrated us, that’s what champions do. They don’t let you back into the game when they take the lead.”
Picture courtesy of si.com, with thanks
