Michy Batshuayi proves the unlikely hero for champions Chelsea



Batshuayi the unlikely hero for champions Chelsea
It has taken a while for Michy Batshuayi to repay his £33 million transfer fee at Chelsea, but it is all about timing, and the Belgian forward's 82nd-minute winner against West Brom at The Hawthorns earned him the distinction of scoring the goal that sealed the Premier League title for Antonio Conte's team.
Batshuayi has been a huge disappointment at Stamford Bridge, with his late strike against Tony Pulis' men his first goal in the league since August. But just as it appeared likely that Chelsea would have to wait until Monday to confirm themselves as champions with a win at home to Watford, the 23-year-old delivered when it mattered by bundling the ball home from close range in front of the ecstatic Chelsea fans.
Prior to Batshuayi's strike, Chelsea had huffed and puffed against a dogged and determined home side, without truly looking like breaking the deadlock. They were always in control, but they were not wrapping up the title in style.
Diego Costa was subdued and Eden Hazard struggled to produce the moment of magic that he has often found at times this season. And against a West Brom team that was only interested in holding out for a point, Chelsea were fast running out of ideas.
But Batshuayi earned himself a place in Chelsea folklore by delivering the killer touch just as a draw seemed the only obvious outcome.
He may end up leaving Chelsea in the summer, but he can at least head out of Stamford Bridge having left something for the club to remember him for.

It must be tough having a season ticket at The Hawthorns, considering the football that is played by Pulis' team.
Albion are on course to finish eighth this season, which would give them the dubious claim to be the best of the rest outside the wealthy top seven, but their football is dismal and they gave another example of their safety-first, fear-drive approach against Chelsea.
At times, Pulis' men operated with a back six and two holding midfielders, ensuring that they would strangle the life out of this game and frustrate Chelsea.
Clearly, no team wants to abandon all defensive duties and go for goals and entertainment without thinking of keeping the ball out of their own net, but West Brom take caution to a whole new level.
Contrast their style of play to that of Celta Vigo, a team in the bottom half of La Liga who played Manchester United off the pitch in Thursday's Europa League semifinal second leg with their bold, attacking football.
Celta came within inches of winning that game with the last kick, but for all of West Brom's risk-free football, they ended up with nothing from this game against Chelsea.
Pulis has kept the club in the Premier League and secured a top-10 finish, but surely there is more to football than merely surviving.

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