Chelsea were forced to work hard in last night’s clash with West Brom but the fixture at the Hawthorns ended positively for Antonio Conte’s side, who secured the three points they needed to seal the Premier League title.
The Blues sealed their second title in three seasons with two games to spare and have ambitions of securing a double later this month, as they tackle London rivals Arsenal in an FA Cup final at Wembley.
Chelsea’s squad is breaming with top-quality players but the match-winner last night wasn’t a man who has excelled this season, as Michy Batshuayi’s late goal was only the Belgian’s second in the Premier League since signing last summer.
Arriving for a reported £33m from Marseille last year, Batshuayi has struggled to make an impression at Stamford Bridge and has been a peripheral figure for the majority of the campaign, leading to suggestions that the Blues will cut their ties with the youngster this summer.
However, allowing the 23-year-old would be a huge mistake and Batshuayi’s title-winning goal last night could provide the young striker with the confidence he needs to excel in West London, after what’s been a turbulent inaugural season in the Premier League.
There is no denying that Batshuayi is a top-class young talent with plenty of potential for the future, as shown by his 17-goal haul in Ligue 1 before moving across the English channel last summer, and he won’t be the last player to find it difficult in their first campaign in English football.
Batshuayi hasn’t really had the opportunity to make an impression this season either, as he’s yet to start in the Premier League and boasts only six starts across all competitions- with those openings coming in the League Cup and FA Cup.
Stats can easily be twisted to show a player like Batshuayi has been disappointing but it’s testament to the Belgian’s ability that he’s scored two goals and secured two assists in his last three starts for Chelsea, all of which have come in the FA Cup.
The likely departure of Diego Costa this summer means that Chelsea are set to enter the market for a top-class striker in the close-season but the Blues’ involvement in the Champions League next term will mean that squad depth is significant- and that could hand Batshuayi the opportunity he needs.
With the title-winning goal, Batshuayi should now have the confidence to make an impression in the Premier League on a more regular basis and it should help him secure more support behind the scenes, which will hopefully lead to more first-team opportunities.
Having spent £33m on the player last year, it would be a major mistake for Chelsea to cut their ties with Batshuayi this summer and his goal last night proves he has what it takes to become a star at Stamford Bridge.