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Club Focus - Chelsea - Record-breaking campaign
Carlo Ancelotti may just have laid rest the ‘Jose Mourinho ghost’ that has haunted the club since they last won the Premier League title in 2006. This season however, despite going to the wire, Chelsea won the league in style and now have the opportunity to create club history with the prospect of a domestic double. The Blues face Portsmouth on Saturday and if they achieve victory there, they will complete their first ever double.
A hopeless Wigan side turned up at Stamford Bridge and after Gary Caldwell’s dismissal, and Frank Lampard’s subsequent penalty, the league title celebrations murmured around the ground. A self-indulgent Didier Drogba did overcome his pathetic selfishness to convert a second half hat-trick after initially being denied penalty responsibilities by club vice-captain Lampard. The Ivorian did manage to total an impressive 29 league goals this season making him the Golden Boot winner for the Premier League, and helped Chelsea score a record-breaking 103 Premier League goals. Four Chelsea players scored 10 goals or more this season, a statement which shows their quality in all attacking aspects as Drogba, Nicolas Anelka, Florent Malouda and Lampard all reached and surpassed double figures.
The fans and the Roman Empire have been entertained this season as Chelsea sunk seven goals past their opponents on four occasions this season, with Stoke, Sunderland, Aston Villa and most recently Wigan falling victim to the side’s ruthless nature in front of goal. Ancelotti has done what his predecessors failed to achieve, victory - but not victory alone - an entertainment value unparallel of their fellow league contenders this season. After stabilising the club and dazzling in the stage, Ancelotti is likely to be rewarded by Abramovich via entry into his transfer kitty. The club do need to build on the foundations, with an ageing squad beginning to feel the restraints of Premier League football on their elder bodies. Ricardo Carvalho, Michael Ballack, Paulo Ferreira, Deco are just a few names which will be on the likely list of replacements. While Joe Cole and Juliano Belletti both featured late on against Wigan in what could be their last game for the club, with Cole linked with a move across London to Tottenham and Belletti set for his retirement from the game.
Possible candidates are already been scouted with Fernando Torres and Gonzalo Higuain both mentioned. This being said, many current Chelsea players have come on leaps and bounds throughout this campaign. Malouda was more of the ‘form is temporary, class is permanent’ category as the former French Player of the Year begins to prove his worth in Chelsea colours, but more notable improvements have come in the defensive areas. Jon Obi Mikel, a strong defensive shield, has matured immensely this season. The African midfielder is improving with every year of experience he gets under his belt, in a position dependant on game reading abilities and awareness. The player has also controlled his previously irrational disciplinary record, as he concluded the season with just three yellow cards and no dismissals. His positional discipline also improved as he adopted a defensive mindset allowing Lampard to prosper in front of goal as he notched 22 for the season (Premier League’s fourth top scorer).
The players cannot jet of for thier summer holidays (or World Cup escapades) just yet however as the FA Cup Final looms on the horizon. Portsmouth stand in between Chelsea and their double triumph of a season. The Blues will be boosted by an excellent record at Wembley, often prevailing under pressure - a feat of their season success as they accumulated maximum points off the top four this campaign. Many of the club’s elite talent will travel to South Africa soon after the FA Cup and after recent performances many have done enough to cement their. John Terry has regained his solidarity in the centre of the backline in recent weeks and his relationship with Ashley Cole has prospered when the two have played together. Joe Cole unfortunately does not have appeared to have done enough after Adam Johnson and James Milner look set for World Cup inclusions. Overall the Blues can relax on a successful season and look to build on the side in order to compete in the Champions League for the 2010/11 campaign.
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