The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Chelsea take league title with late goal
Conte completes reversal of fortunes to see side confirmed champions
Chelsea are Premier League champions after Michy Batshuayi scored late to secure last night’s 1-0 victory over West Brom.
Second-placed Tottenham’s loss at West Ham on Friday of last week and Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat of Middlesbrough on Monday meant the Blues needed three points from three games to clinch the championship.
Manager Antonio Conte wanted to secure the trophy at the earliest opportunity, and Batshuayi was an unlikely hero after 82 minutes at The Hawthorns. He was not even among the substitutes on Monday and is still to make a Premier League start.
The Belgium striker, a £33 million signing from Marseille last summer, made his 18th Premier League appearance off the bench and finally showed his poacher’s instinct, seven minutes later, with his second league goal to send Chelsea and Antonio Conte delirious.
Chelsea had dominated possession, but the quality of their patient build-up was not matched by the final ball.
Albion caused the visitors some anxiety on the break.
Baggies goalkeeper Ben Foster made a fine save to deny Victor Moses early in the second half before Batshuayi’s decisive intervention.
He pounced when Gary Cahill’s sliced shot was centred by Cesar Azpilicueta to spark celebrations.
The win saw Chelsea take an unassailable 10-point lead over Spurs with two games to spare and clinched the Blues’ fifth Premier League title in 13 seasons.
They will seek to complete a double in Conte’s first season by winning the FA Cup final against Arsenal on May 27.
Chelsea had won once in five prior games here, in August 2015, and were defeated 3-0 two years ago after becoming champions in 2014-15 under Jose Mourinho.
The Blues imploded as seven months later Mourinho was sacked for a second time, before a 10th-placed finish behind Leicester last term.
Despite leading the rejuvenation, Conte’s future remains far from certain, with Inter Milan coveting the former Juventus and Italy boss. He now has four consecutive domestic titles after three with Juve.
The 47-year-old appears likely to be offered an improved contract, 12 months into the three-year deal he signed on joining last July, but on Thursday he suggested he wanted his “real value” to be recognised.
Conte told Sky Sports 1: “I think this achievement is a great achievement for the players, for my players.
“And I have to tell thanks for their commitment for their work-rate.
“This season they show me great attitude, great patience, great will, great desire to try to do something great in this season.
“And now after this win we must be happy. We must be pleased for all this season.”