Chelsea crowned Premier League champions.

Chelsea clinched the Premier League title on Sunday in a manner that may seem to sum up their season with six defenders on the field, systematically wasting time as it protected a 1-0 lead that came from a scruffy first-half goal.

Eden Hazard scored that goal with a header off the rebound of his own, horrible penalty kick. “Lucky, lucky,” Hazard told Sky TV.

Yet really there was nothing lucky about Chelsea’s victory over Crystal Palace, or its fourth title in a decade.
Against a plucky Palace team, Chelsea defended well and attacked with slick menace. José Mourinho took off three attacking players as he brought on Jon Obi Mikel, Kurt Zouma and Filipe Luis in the second half. Chelsea parked in defense and eyed the clock. But over the game Chelsea had 62 percent of possession and twice as many shots with seven on target to just one by the Palace. Despite the caution, this was domination.

“A little bit nervous but we got over the line and we are champions,” Chelsea captain John Terry told Sky immediately after the final whistle.

Chelsea dominated all season. It took over first place on the final weekend of August in the third round of games. It has been there ever since. With three games left it leads by 16 points. It has the best defense in the division and, it should be noted, the second-best attack.