An emphatic 3-0 victory over our closest rivals, Manchester United sealed back-to-back Premiership titles to spark wild scenes of celebration.
This morning, suffering from the mother of all hangovers, the correct keys on the keyboard are incredibly hard to find and every tap of one resonates like a thousand cymbals in my head. Nevertheless, the whole scenario is almost utopian.
After following Chelsea for so many barren years, I can?t help but pinch myself. To win it once was sublime, to win it a second successive year is approaching unbelievable and to do it against the only other team to win back-to-back Premiership titles is the stuff that fairy tales are made of.
For the fixture Mourinho chose to make four changes to the team that had lost to Liverpool the week before, Cech, Carvalho, Cole and Robben came in for Cudicini, Geremi, Del Horno and Crespo. In making the changes, Mourinho reverted back to his favoured 4-3-3 formation that had served him so well this season.
With an expectant Stamford Bridge crowd in full voice, proceedings got off to a mesmerising start when Chelsea took an early lead. Lampard delivered a telling corner into the heart of the penalty area with a plethora of layers helping the ball on Gallas swooped from two yards out to nod it home. With five minutes gone we were already in heaven. However, the prospect of eight-five minutes of nail-biting anticipation was not something to look forward to.
Chelsea had started well and some telling runs from Robben were testing the United defence. One run saw a cross just evade the waiting Drogba as Chelsea had their chance to double the lead. Everyone knew that United hadn?t come merely to lie down and when Rooney danced through the defence the stadium held its breath. Thankfully, the young prodigy, who had already incurred the wrath of the home support with a wild lunge on Terry, shot well wide.
Every minute of that first half seemed to take an eternity, every United attack took the breath out of my lungs but the back four, plus Cech, were up to the task. Terry, playing on with blood seeping form the wound inflicted by Rooney, marshalled the defence superbly. Alongside him, Carvalho looked sublime, almost as if he?d benefited from not playing for the last few games. In front of them, Makelele, Lampard and Essien were proving far too effective for the lightweight United duo of O?Shea and Giggs. All it needed was that decisive second goal to put our fears to rest.
Thankfully, it came early in the second half and what a goal it was. Cole received the ball with his back to goal and proceeded to swivel, pirouette and dance past the attention of three markers to then whip a shot past Van Der Saar. Everyone knew the game was up, the celebrations were manic as Cole tore off his shirt and celebrated in manic fashion with the Matthew Harding Lower.
Ferguson tried to change matters introducing Van Nistelrooy but Chelsea held firm and back-to-back titles were beckoning. However, we were still to witness a goal that would grace any end of season competition. Carvalho broke up a United attack and broke out of defence, he slipped a ball to Lampard and continued his run to the edge of the box. True enough the ball was played back to him and the central defender beat Van Der Saar all ends up.
The relief was instantaneous, the Chelsea players hugged each other and the supporters danced with delight knowing that not even Chelsea in their darkest days would concede four goals in the time left let alone this team.
Sadly, events took a turn for the worse when Ferreira tackled Rooney and the youngster, upon who so many are basing our World Cup dreams, was taken off on a stretcher. However, lets not let that detract form what was a marvellous day, a day that will go down in the history books for everyone to know that Chelsea, our Chelsea, won back-to-back-Premiership titles.
Cech 7, Ferreira 7, Terry 8, Carvalho 8, Gallas 7, Makelele 7, Lampard 7, Essien 7, Cole 8 (Crespo 6), Robben 7 (Duff 6), Drogba 8 (Maniche 6)
Manager Rating
Mourinho ? Stated in his post match press conference that he?d thought about quitting twice this season, not surprising considering the rough ride the media have given our club. Thankfully, he?ll be around next season as Chelsea, under his stewardship, go from strength to strength looking for a unique third successive title. The man is a living, walking legend, enough said.
Opponent Rating
Ferguson ? Arrived in SW6 suggesting the gap wasn?t too big between us and United. He also suggested that they would spoil our party instead he?s left to contemplate just how much work he still has to do at Old Trafford in preparation for next season.