CHAMPIONS OF ENGLAND

ANTONIO  CONTE SCALES HEIGHT OF ENGLISH FOOTBALL AT FIRST ATTEMPT

Antonio Conte breaks into one of his trademark celebrations

Batshuayi came on for fellow countryman Eden Hazard(Photo:Getty)



The team was in disarray by the time the season petered out last time, no thanks largely to the antics of Portuguese narcissist, Jose Mourinho.  With a tenth place finish, no one was quite sure what the future held.


Then came the Italian who had never played or managed outside his homeland.  Armed with humility, passion and the willingness to work hard, he galvanised the players.  He refused to be deterred, discouraged or frightened by the arrival or presence of more high-profile managers than himself in the English League.  Come to think of it, men like Pep Guardiola of Manchester City, Jose Mourinho of Manchester United, Arsene Wenger of Arsenal and Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool were unable to stop Antonio Conte from his single-minded pursuit of the goal which he had set for his team.  Within three months of the start of the season, he had seized the Premier League by the scruff of the neck, so to say.


Not surprisingly, there were a few doubters who, at first, thought the likeable Italian was going to wilt.  However, as he continued to move like an express train, the doubters were in shock as Conte left his rivals in his wake.


Going into yesternight's game, the Blues needed just three more points to win the League.  The goal that secured the three points eventually came through Michy Batshuayi who had hardly played all season.  Then began the celebrations.


If Chelsea are able to hold on to this charming Italian, this may truly be the start of great things at the club.





Conte celebrates Batshuayi's goal that won the title