Cesc Fabregas is Chelsea’s best player once again as Michy Batshuayi stars as Antonio Conte’s most unlikely hero

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Simon Johnson12 May 2017

Standard Sport’s Simon Johnson has his say after a memorable night for Antonio Conte and Chelsea

THE MOST UNLIKELY CHELSEA HERO

Of all the players to get the goal to clinch the League, no-one in the country would have put money on Michy Batshuayi.

Given the disappointing of debut seasons at the club, even Batshuayi wouldn't have thought he could make the difference in such a huge way.

Bought from Marseille for £33.1m last summer, the forward has spent most of the last 10 months watching on from the sidelines.

Photo: Anthony Devlin/AFP/Getty Images
Anthony Devlin/AFP/Getty Images

Coach Antonio Conte clearly doesn't rate him because even when Diego Costa hasn't been available, Batshuayi hasn't been involved. In fact he hasn't started a Premier League game all campaign.

But as Chelsea ran out of ideas, Conte decided to give him a try and was rewarded in the most stunning fashion.

Nine months after scoring his first League goal for Chelsea, he doubled his tally and repaid his transfer fee with one neat finish from eight yards.

THAT WEMBLEY GOAL HAS RESTORED NEMANJA MATIC'S MOJO

What a difference scoring with one of the best strike's Wembley has ever seen makes.

A few weeks ago Matic was struggling for form and his every touch was met with a nervous gasp or groan from Chelsea supporters.

Of all the players that failed to perform last season, the Serbian international appears to be the one still waiting to be forgiven.

Photo: AFP/Getty Images
AFP/Getty Images

With Chelsea looking at buying Tiemoue Bakayoko in the summer, Matic knows his place in the team is under threat.

But Matic has been playing far better since beating Hugo Lloris from long range in the FA Cup semi-final last month.

He exudes far more confidence and the Chelsea fans now enjoy chanting 'shoot' at the midfielder every time he gets in range.

WEST BROM PROVE THEY ARE NO MIDDLESBROUGH

Four days ago, Chelsea were allowed to cruise to three points against Middlesbrough, but West Brom were never going to make it as easy.

For starters, they boast a fine record at home against the Blues, who had won once on their last five visits to the Hawthorns.

Former Chelsea managers Roberto di Matteo and Andre Villas-Boas have no fond memories of the place as this was where they took charge of their last League game before being fired.

West Brom were bar better organised defensively than Middlesbrough. They played with 10 men behind the ball throughout and crucially crowded the middle of the pitch and the flanks.

Baggies coach Tony Pulis and his players vowed they wouldn't roll over for Chelsea. They certainly lived up to their promise.

In Pictures | Chelsea's road to the 2016-17 Premier League title

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CESC FABREGAS IS CHELSEA'S BEST PLAYER AGAIN

Chelsea played without N'Golo Kante for the second game in a row, but once again he wasn’t' missed.

Kante had recovered from a thigh problem, but was only deemed fit enough to take a place on the subs' bench.

It meant that Fabregas was selected in midfield and in a tight game, he was a delight to watch.

Photo: Anthony Devlin/AFP/Getty Images
Anthony Devlin/AFP/Getty Images

West Brom didn't gift him as much time and space as Middlesbrough did to their cost earlier in the week.

Despite this, Fabregas still managed to see plenty of the ball and probe West Brom's defence on a regular basis.

He is certainly making it hard for Conte to leave him out and the FA Cup Final against Arsenal is on the horizon.

DAVID LUIZ GIVES ANOTHER DEFENSIVE MASTERCLASS - FOR 99 PER CENT OF THE GAME

Granted, West Brom didn't exactly lay siege to Chelsea's goal, but this was the kind of physical encounter that the Brazil international may have struggled to cope with in his first spell at the club.

The home side launched many a long ball in his direction for beefy centre forward Salomon Rondon.

After being beaten to a cross by Rondon within 22 seconds, Luiz made sure it didn't happen again.

On the few occasions Pulis' side broke on the counter attack, the 30-year-old was there to intervene.

His most crucial contribution came just before the break as he intercepted a dangerous cross just in front of Chris Brunt.

There was just one aberration, which Chelsea were relieved to escape from, in the second half. Rondon broke clear from his weak challenge, but failed to get a shot on target.

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