The 2004-05 English Premier League title was gained by Chelsea in relentless vogue.
Jose Mourinho’s first season in England proved to be unilaterally spectacular; his aspect misplaced only one league match all season, conceded simply 15 targets and recorded an enormous 95 factors. Arsenal completed in second place however in fact there was no title race worthy of point out; Chelsea have been, by a long way, the most effective staff within the nation.
CHANGES
Roman Abramovich offered a degree of monetary clout by no means earlier than seen in English soccer, and Mourinho utilised his assets to full impact. The gamers that have been introduced in all performed a serious function within the aspect’s success over an prolonged interval; Didier Drogba got here in from Marseille for £24m, whereas defensive duo Paulo Ferreira and Ricardo Carvalho, who had carried out so diligently for Mourinho in Porto’s Champions League-winning season, joined for a mixed price of £30m.
Petr Cech, who could be first-choice goalkeeper for the following decade, arrived for £12m, whereas the sensible Arjen Robben was a shrewd acquisition from PSV.
Manchester United spent the largest single price of the window, capturing the immensely proficient Wayne Rooney from Everton for a price extending to £30m. Alan Smith (Leeds, £7m) and Gabriel Heinze additionally helped to bolster their squad.
Actual Madrid, after buying David Beckham the 12 months prior, turned their consideration to the Premier League as soon as once more, securing offers for Jonathan Woodgate and Michael Owen from Newcastle and Liverpool respectively. The Reds, below new boss Rafa Benitez, raided Spain in response, securing the highly-rated Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia.
From the second tier, the promoted sides have been Norwich Metropolis, West Bromich Albion and Crystal Palace, who got here up through the play-offs regardless of ending the league season in sixth spot.
SEASON SUMMARY
As spectacular and just about faultless as Chelsea’s season was, the innate degree of inconsistency of their rivals created much less of a race and extra of a procession. Arsenal, sustaining their unbeaten file from the earlier marketing campaign, began in very good type, however after falling to defeat Manchester United at Previous Trafford on the finish of October, picked up only one win in six, permitting Chelsea to open up a five-point hole on the high.
After the perimeters fought out a 2-2 draw at Highbury in November, the Gunners have been capable of maintain tempo till February, when damaging losses to Bolton and Manchester United meant that not solely had they fallen 13 factors off the tempo, they’d additionally dropped into third within the desk behind United.
On the similar time, Chelsea simply stored successful matches. A run of 13 of them, plus a draw, from January by way of to April despatched them blistering into the space and neither Arsenal nor United have been capable of declare something like that degree of consistency. Mourinho’s aspect have been enviable in assault however it was their stingy defensive play that proved so spectacular, recording 10 clear sheets in row and their 15 targets conceded in the whole season stays a Premier League file.
The lengthy anticipate Chelsea’s followers got here away to Bolton, the place one in all their gamers of the season, Frank Lampard, scored twice in a 2-0 win to start the celebrations.
Please don’t name me smug, however I’m European champion and I feel I’m a particular one.Jose Mourinho
Arsenal have been capable of rally to some extent, ending in second on 83 factors, seven forward of Manchester United in third. One of many tales of the season, Everton, got here subsequent. Regardless of engaged on a constrained price range, David Moyes negotiated the Toffees above rivals Liverpool within the desk, and with it a shot on the Champions League – one, nevertheless, that might be doomed to untimely failure within the qualifying spherical. As for Liverpool – effectively, their unacceptable league type was eclipsed by one of the crucial well-known Champions League victories of all of them, getting back from 3-0 in opposition to AC Milan to win on penalties in Istanbul.
Bolton Wanderers, below Sam Allardyce, completed degree on factors with the Reds, exceeding all expectations.
On the foot of the desk, one of many founding members of the Premier League, Southampton, have been relegated in what proved to be an exhilarating last day. Not one of the three relegation positions have been but determined and West Bromich Albion, Norwich and Crystal Palace joined the Saints in battling to be the one aspect who might save themselves. Norwich failed miserably, being thrashed 6-0 at Fulham, whereas Southampton went forward in opposition to Manchester United however misplaced 2-1 to finish the season backside.
That left two. Crystal Palace seemed to be within the field seat, main 2-1 going into the ultimate 10 minutes, however a Charlton equaliser meant that West Bromwich Albion survived courtesy of a victory over Portsmouth. They stayed up by a single level.
AWARDS
PLAYER OF THE SEASON
FRANK LAMPARD
The dynamic central midfielder added a dimension of targets to his already very good recreation, hitting 13 throughout the season.
MANAGER OF THE SEASON
JOSE MOURINHO
The Portuguese arrived in a haze of expectation and duly delivered, taking Chelsea to the title at a canter.
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE SEASON
WAYNE ROONEY
Rooney took to the step up from Everton in emphatic model, and begun to ship on the promise of his early days at Goodison Park.
TOP GOALSCORER
THIERRY HENRY – 25 GOALS
The quicksilver ahead collected the award for the third time in his profession, courtesy of his 25 targets.
TEAM OF THE SEASON
GOAL OF THE SEASON
WAYNE ROONEY gained Aim of the Season for this lobbed effort in opposition to Middlesbrough within the FA Cup…..
However as it is a Premier League season assessment, it needs to be this strike – once more by Rooney – versus Newcastle United at Previous Trafford.
MOST EXPENSIVE TRANSFER
Wayne Rooney
Everton to MANCHESTER UTD
£30m
KEY MOMENT OF THE SEASON
Chelsea making the most of United’s late-season slips to arrange clinching the title at Stamford Bridge in opposition to their closest rivals, which they duly did in a complete 3-0 triumph.
