Barbara

To be a proper Chels he just needs to feel like he belongs, at home at the Bridge, with the fans. When did players start needing more than identification, dedication and pleasure to be a proper team player? Nobody said he's a Chelsea legend - that'd be an exaggeration, but he clearly embraced the team, like others had, so just because he played some years for Arsenal it shouldn't allow him to be a proper Chelsea player? Come on, that's overreaction... Willian, Schurrle, Costa are among players recently that embraced the club and the fans quickly and are recognized as proper Chels, but Cesc can't? Let's not forget his decision to come here wasn't an easy one and he had other options. He could have chosen the 'easy way'. He had to ignore some bad blood that bad been there between him and Jose for years, ignore and sort of kill his own identification with Arsenal (he's half Barça academy product and half Arsenal imo).he put a lot of effort and you could see his first few interviews and months here he was trying to be respectful towards Arsenal because of his history there while also getting used to the new atmosphere, but it's been months since that's been out of the window. I think we really did surprise him. The reception from players he was used to have fights with a few years ago, a manager he probably despised before, but that trusted him and motivated him giving him a key role in the team and guaranteeing him in his favorite position, fans that ignored their own bitterness and even loathe towards him to welcome someone who was now one of us (yesterday I came across one old quote of mine a few days before the transfer when someone asked who's Cesc Fabregas in the football world and my answer quoting them was: a professional cunt who also happens to be a football player). He was surprised by what he got since day one. How many times have he mentioned the support he got from Terry? How many times have we seen both of them embracing and celebrating wins? Mourinho hasn't wasted one chance to praise him and let him and everyone else know how much he's been important for us. Most fans have unconditionally been supporting him and although his song is more about riling Arsenal fans up than it is about him (although, he's our little wizard in midfield), it's still an epic song. He's been won over by all those things and it's been a long while since he stopped holding back. You could see it was awkward for him at first, but he quickly left it behind him. There's nothing wrong in calling him a proper Chels imo because he lived first hand what's so special about this club. I always say this, but there's a reason why ex-players hold Chelsea in such a great regard, always showing support and always having the best words to say about the club. Obviously, I've never worked there, but it's clear from an outsider point of view, that the environment for players is just one of the best in the football world and if there's one thing Cesc has always been is passionate about the sport. I think we won him over and he didn't stand a chance. Proper Chels all way in imo. He's been tempted to kiss this badge a handful times this season. Many say he lacks loyalty as he did the same with his child club, the club where he finally turned a professional and now with us. Sometimes you think you childhood sweetheart is the one will love forever, then you think your first relationship is the person you'll love more than anything because they're all your most important 'firsts' and they influenced greatly who you are. Then you grow up, you see a little bit of everything, go many places and you're finally mature enough to know that things that are meant to last long come with a lot of effort, passion, and retribution, you see that romantic tinted glasses won't take you much further and when you really come across something that is special in itself - not being a childhood love or your first whatever - you just surrender to it because you need to go around a little bit to learn what's best.

when they played us a week ago they really were nothing special at all...

After many gifs and pics, I just can't help myself with what could end up being an essay (not surprisingly if it does). There was never a doubt or a contender. The way we've established ourselves since day on in this league showed everyone who wanted to see that we were the real deal. A lot is said about the level of the league nowadays, it doesn't matter really if compared to other leagues we're stronger or weaker (I disagree because I believe the competition here is closer, other leagues have 1 or 2 teams that are way better than any English team, it doesn't make the leagues stronger, just the specific teams), winning the Premier League is never easy, but we made it look like it was. The consistency showed by this team from start to 'end' has been incredible. The stats speak for themselves and people may diminish it because of the 'low level of the competition', but did City had an overwhelming lead last year while we and United were in transition? It's the second season in United's transition... they still haven't been able to reach the level we did in our first year. The team Mourinho inherited was no better than the one Moyes and definitely way worse than the one Van Gaal inherited - still he accomplished more. I wish I could go back and find some posts last year, a little before May saying next season (current one) we'd win the league, that Mourinho was feeling and learning about the squad and was molding it. This team is nowhere a Mourinho team yet, but the comparison to last season is astonishing. The grinding results, scrapped, fought off, even when playing bad - this is one of the trademarks of winners and of course, one of José's. That's not a flaw as many here like to label. He's more pragmatic than others, but I feel like others should be more like him, not the other way around. He's way more flexible, smart and pro-active than other managers and that's why I feel so surprised and disappointed by people dismissing him the way they do around here. He has flaws, he has areas he should improve, I'm not arguing against that, but the criticism he receives here is unfair imo. Next season I expect us to literally and for real challenge all four fronts. I'm sure he'll bring a few more players - players he identified with the profile he wants (both technically/tactically and mentally). Hazard benefited a lot from being managed by him. He's working on his personality and mentality and while I can't predict if others would have done the same, I feel like Mourinho is one of the many reasons Hazard grew so much in this aspect. Maybe another manager would have given him more freedom, but what would he have learned with having more freedom? Absolutely nothing, he would just have better stats and more enticing matches compilations. Hazard was born with the talent he has, no manager will be able to improve or detract that. The natural course of things is for him to just improve in executing what he does better and better as time passes, but the tactical, mental and emotional growth he had under Mourinho, I'd risk to say he'd have under few - if any. But instead people say he'd be better off in a team that isn't managed by Mourinho. I can't get behind this reasoning. The way Mourinho brought Costa and Cesc to this team, how fitting and perfect they were as well as Matic repatriation last season just shows what a great chess player he is. He saw what he needed, he went for it and with just a few players and not as much money as other teams, combined with his brilliant management, he brought us from the Arsenal position (fighting the arse off to finish in the Champions League positions) to title contenders in one season and title winners in two. United couldn't do the same, City took years, and Arsenal and Liverpool feel like will probably die trying. He deserves a lot of credit and recognition. This team evolved in all possible aspects this season: tactically, mentally, technically. We continued to get the results against bigger teams (even if not as good as last season) and we found ways to beat the smaller teams when they parked buses or marked our best players out of the matches. We won when we weren't playing well. We scrapped results at the end of matches, our players showed a lot more heart and winning spirit. The level, quality and even beauty of the football we played for five months is not only something to be proud of, but also an indication of what is yet to come. There's a lot of pressure for a team as big as Chelsea. There's pressure to retain titles and there'll be even more pressure in the UCL, but after years without even challenging the league (until Mourinho came back), being kicked out of UCL in groups stage and not even scoring the domestic cups as we used to, there was an unprecedented amount of pressure over the club - including from Roman. After the nightmare Mourinho lived in his last season at RM and how he couldn't achieve what he was hired for (La Décima), there was also an immeasurable amount of pressure on him. This has been lift, and next season we'll have just the pressure that comes with being a big club. One we're already used to, so I expect this team to be stronger, more deadly but also more carefree. I expect Mourinho to be less pragmatic, but let's not fool ourselves. If he finds himself and the team in the same position he did this year: short squad, limited bench, key players suspended or injured and the expected lack of form any team has during a long season, he'll resort to his old methods and that's not a flaw, that's a quality of the highest order. Being stubborn, inflexible, arrogant and insisting with something that could cost points and later titles isn't positive, it's stupidity. There was never a real competition except for City in January - when they tried their best, but it wasn't enough. Chelsea is many steps ahead everyone else in the Premier League and if I had to bet, I'd say the gap will be even bigger next year. The enormous amount of pressure is now over City and United - for different reasons, Arsenal and Liverpool have to overcome the pressure and their emotional/mental pitfalls to really challenge for the title. I have no doubts we'll get 2 or 3 names - just like Costa and Cesc - that will take us to higher levels. So while City, United and even Arsenal can actually improve their form from this season and probably will, I think we'll improve more than anyone else. Not only because most of the pressure (the damaging one) is off, not only because this set of players will have a title, experience, growth, maturity and chemistry under their belts, not only because more key players will come, but also because with the pressure he clearly had on his shoulders, José will start to work on what he promised (and was asked) by Abramovich. Prepare yourselves, the new era of Chelsea FC starts here and it won't be loaded only with titles, a new style, philosophy and identity is coming and I'm as certain about it as I was about this EPL title 14 months ago. You can quote me in the future. All hail Chelsea FC - the overwhelming champions of 2014/15 Premier League, even for the boring people that will find something to pick on.

I'm not. We don't hear much praise from Pep's current - let alone ex - players. He isn't that well liked if you ask me. A lot of his ex-players badmouthed him... which is why I don't think this is surprising.

lol cute pic of Lia and Cesc

The improvement on his all around game lately in undeniable. He sacrifices a lot of his qualities to cover for Ivanovic, but today he showed much better decision making. I remember only once he didn't go for the best (and obvious) pass still in the first half - which is normal and acceptable. He's been flawless in all other decisions he made in the game. He's growing and he could be the answer to our attacking midfield. No need to bring Koke and Pogba (in my opinion anyway) to provide us with a better #10 if he keeps improving like he's done lately. Let's hope he can reach this form earlier coming next season, and I'm sure he'll be one of the first names in Mourinho's lineups - deservedly. I'd use the money we'll have to spend addressing another defender (preferably Varane if we can pay), maybe a good RW (more for squad depth than anything) and a player closer to Fabregas' level (or at least style) as his immediate replacement. If Cesc struggles again in the second half - whether for fatigue or injuries, things that we've seen this season and in others in the past), it'd be nice to have some player that can offer the same, even if they aren't the same caliber. Just someone who has vision, can pick passes, runs and does more than a defensive job. I think those areas are more immediate than an improvement to Oscar because we already have that on Willian. Now if we sell Oscar, then surely, bring someone else. so much class and he's backing up the post he wrote when he first came here. It's clear to me that Premier League had always been his dream and he had always had a soft spot for Chelsea particularly. He could have gone to other places, but he chose us. As a person, I've always been a huge fan of him and while I liked him as a player for Shahktar, I'm starting to nurture a new appreciation for him. His fight and dedication have always been undeniable, but now I think he's starting to show his attacking qualities as well (some of which I even doubted existed at some point).

Respect for John here. So much class as usual.

crying uncontrollably

say what you want... but he's more than an owner, he's one of us, completely passionate about the club. So proud of how Roman has always supported us and went even to Academy matches. #respect

Today he won't have to call the wife and as Cesc screams: CHAMPIONS!!! https://vine.co/v/eZBaWiXMLvH

“The notion that Chelsea are boring smacks of jealousy from their rivals who have struggled to win a title. Not much sign of boredom from Chelsea’s fans at the moment.” — BBC Sport

https://vine.co/v/eZBazQQ0ZFx gotta love whoever runs our Twitter account

POST AWAY!!!!!!!!!! CHAMPIONS

isn't there a Champions thread? We need one to celebrate the title

Drogba is useless, why Remy didn't start? Okay, maybe he's off pace after three weeks away, but DD has been forever off pace for a while... just bring Remy

we'll be champions today, we have a 13-point lead. Even if they want to take the attention, they can't ignore the title. Also, who gives a fuck about the media?

well, I actually rather Fabregas as a #10 than have Cuadrado in the team... he added nothing to the play

I'm not expecting anything today, but three points, even if it comes from a non-existent penalty, badly taken, but redeemed with a good header. We can play good football from next on, but today, just three points, whatever way they come.

I thought it was slower than usual, not that well placed. You either hit in the middle of the goal or choose a side. He chose neither and didn't put any strength. He normally goes for a side or hits it in the middle, with a bit more strength. I guess he was sort of nervous, but he took the header very well.

that was a bizarre goal... worst penalty I've ever seen Hazard take

he wasn't injured. He had a renal crisis and was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance

Azpili . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hazard Terry Iva Willian Cesc Oscar

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/9829503/drogba-says-chelsea-players-reacted-after-mourinho-speech people really underestimate the influence he has on this team... not only he put this team together, but he's one of the biggest reasons we're going to win the league. All rail The Special One