Premier League 2009/10

Chelsea are champions as summer of signings beckons

Chelsea are worthy Premier League champions at the end of a thrilling season full of twists and turns - but it is a campaign that ends with all of the major clubs needing a revamp of their playing staff


By ALAN HANSEN, BBC Sport football expert
Story from BBC Sport
Published: 10 May 2010


Carlo Ancelotti's side won the day because they had just that bit more consistency than Manchester United and Arsenal, scoring a magnificent total of 103 league goals. In some respects, the Blues claimed the title because their rivals were not good enough, not because they were outstanding.

The Champions League is invariably a reliable gauge to the strength of your domestic football - and results there suggested that England's top teams were easier to beat than they had been in previous seasons.

Warning signs flashed when Liverpool went out at the group stage, while no Premier League side made it to the semi-finals, which have been dominated by English teams in the past. It will be the same next season unless improvements are made.

If the top four went backwards, then teams like Tottenham, Manchester City and Aston Villa made strides. Everton arguably played as well as any team in the Premier League from the turn of the year.

No-one can deny that Chelsea deserved to win the title. Their goalscoring was remarkable, especially as Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard got 50% of them. They also "acquired" a new player in Florent Malouda. He went from never looking like being a player to being exceptional.

There is no doubt, however, that they were helped greatly by the failings of others. (...)


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(Published: 10.05.2010.)