Chelsea made history in John Terry’s Stamford Bridge send-off. Michy Batshuayi scored twice and Willian, Eden Hazard and Pedro also scored for the newly-crowned champions, who beat Sunderland 5-1 to become the first team to win 30 Premier League matches in a season.
Terry, who will leave the club after next weekend’s FA Cup final against Arsenal, was given a hero’s reception as he led out the team for their final league match of the campaign.
Relegated Sunderland went ahead when Sebastian Larsson’s third-minute free-kick ricocheted into the path of Javier Manquillo, who fired into the roof of the net from seven yards out.
Chelsea were level within five minutes. After Marcos Alonso curled a free-kick against the bar, the visitors were unable to clear their lines and David Luiz eventually teed up Willian, who thumped home from near the right-hand edge of the six-yard box.
There were emotional scenes when Chelsea’s legendary number 26 was substituted in the 26th minute. Terry’s team-mates formed a guard of honour and he struggled to hold back tears as he left the pitch.
He embraced his replacement, Gary Cahill, placing the captain’s armband around him in a symbolic as well as emotional gesture, before also embracing boss Antonio Conte as well as the Blues substitutes and backroom staff.
Conte’s side dominated most of the match and they went ahead when Diego Costa beautifully controlled the ball and laid it off to Hazard. who steered it past keeper Jordan Pickford.
The third Chelsea goal was a gift. Joleon Lescott’s dire attempt to cut out Cesc Fabregas’ long ball saw the Black Cats defender head it over Pickford, giving Pedro a simple header into an unguarded net.
Pedro turned provider to set up Batshuayi, who finished emphatically – and scored again in the final seconds when he cut in from the right and thumped home. Batshuayi has enjoyed a spectacular finish to the season. He scored the winner at West Brom which clinched the title and his two goals after coming on against Sunderland – the second of which was the final kick of Chelsea’s season – meant he ended the campaign with four goals in his last three appearances.
Chelsea’s players made their way back out on to the pitch to be presented with the Premier League trophy. Of course the biggest cheer was reserved for Terry, whose long Blues career ends with a fifth title triumph.
Terry, with his wife two children close by, then addressed the crowd from the pitch and tearfully thanked Chelsea fans.
“Thank you, the best supporters in the world, without a doubt,” he told them. “You’ve given me everything from the age of 14, picked me up when I was down and sung my name when I’ve had bad games and disappointed you.
“Thank you will never be enough. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much. I love you all.”
This post was last modified on 22/05/2017