THEY SAID I COULDN’T DO IT WITH THE KIDS No transfers, no Hazard, but Blues in Champions League
FRANK LAMPARD punched the air in delight after a remarkable first season in Premier League management.
Chelsea clinched a place in the Champions League which, as Lampard was quick to remind everyone, few gave them a chance of doing last summer after their transfer ban.
They had also sold Eden Hazard and the rookie manager was having to rely on kids.
Fitting then that it was academy graduate Mason Mount who scored and provided an assist in a man-of-the-match display. Mount was outstanding in a solid, mature team performance as they only needed a point to clinch a top-four place but stayed cool.
Olivier Giroud starred again with his 14th of the season – and if Chelsea can add some silverware then Lampard deserves to be mentioned in the Manager of the Year candidates.
And the future looks bright with new signing Timo Werner watching from the stands.
It looks likely they will be after a new keeper too because Kepa Arrizabalaga was axed. Stand-in Willy Caballero looked much more secure, never looked like conceding and it looked a game too far for Wolves who, despite needing to win in their own pursuit for Europe, were out of ideas and below form.
Wolves can still sneak in as they are still in the Europa League. If Chelsea win the FA Cup, then seventh will be enough, and finishing that high still deserves credit after a season which began 12 months ago with a Europa League qualifier.
But Chelsea always looked in command from the moment they went ahead in first-half injury time. Pedro Neto conceded a foul on Marcos Alonso on the edge of the box. Alonso looked as if he would take it and maybe that wrong-footed Wolves keeper Rui Patricio.
Up stepped Mount to whip a superb right-footer over the wall and into the far corner to break the deadlock in sensational style.
Three minutes later Chelsea got their second. This time they broke from deep as Christian Pulisic surged forward, was fouled but referee Stuart Attwell played a brilliant advantage to allow Mount to play in Giroud.
Giroud used all his experience and strength to stretch and steer the ball home with his left foot. In the space of three minutes of injury time it was mission accomplished for the Blues.
On came Adama Traore for some extra pace and that was quickly followed by a treble change with Joao Moutinho, Daniel Podence and Ruben Vinagre.
But Wolves just could not find a way back into the contest, while it was Chelsea who looked more likely to score again. But the job was already done.
CHELSEA (3-4-2-1): Caballero 6; James 7, Azpilicueta 7, Rudiger 7; Zouma 7, Alonso 7, Jorginho 6 (Barkley 88), Kovacic 7 (Loftus-Cheek 85); Mount 8 (Pedro 85), Pulisic 7 (Hudson-Odoi 78); Giroud 7 (Abraham 78). Goals: Mount 45, Giroud 45. WOLVES (3-4-2-1): Patricio 6; Doherty 6 (Podence 59, 6), Boly 6, Saiss 6; Coady 6, Jonny 6 (Vinagre 59, 6), Dendoncker 5, Neves 6 (Moutinho 59, 6); Neto 5 (Traore 46, 6) Jota 6; Jimenez 5.