Top 10 Moments from Chelsea's 2014/15 Premier League Season
The past year or so has proved an eventful one for Chelsea.
Jose Mourinho's side has transformed themselves from title also-rans to Premier League champions.
There have been plenty of memorable moments along the way, too. There were some victories and some great individual performances from the likes of Eden Hazard and Diego Costa.
Above all, there was the moment when Chelsea lifted the Premier League trophy in front of their own fans at Stamford Bridge to be officially crowned as the champions of England.
What were the best moments in Chelsea's 2014/15 Premier League campaign? Join Bleacher Report as we look at the top 10.
Andre Schurrle's Goal Against Burnley
1 of 10
Start as you mean to go on, they say. Well, Chelsea certainly did that.
Facing newly promoted Burnley at Turf Moor on the first Monday of the new campaign was a potential banana skin for Jose Mourinho's men—a fact reinforced when the Clarets took an early lead through Scott Arfield.
Any fears soon subsided, though, when Diego Costa equalised.
Branislav Ivanovic added Chelsea's third before the half-time whistle, yet the pick of the bunch was Andre Schurrle's effort to make it 2-1.
Finishing off a fine team move, the German's goal was among the best of the season. Chelsea passed it around and eventually through the Burnley defence, with the exceptional vision of Cesc Fabregas picking out his teammate's run.
We witnessed the start of a new era of Chelsea dominance that night.
Oscar's Goal of the Season Against QPR
2 of 10
From one exquisite goal to another, we move to Oscar's against QPR in November.
This game is remembered more for the criticism Jose Mourinho gave Chelsea fans at the final whistle, but it shouldn't be.
In his press conference, the Chelsea boss explained that he thought Chelsea fans were sleeping until his team took a 1-0 lead.
If they were, they had every reason to get on their feet after Oscar's 32nd-minute strike.
When Cesc Fabregas picked him out on the edge of the area, there didn't seem to be too many options for Oscar.
The Brazilian took QPR and goalkeeper Rob Green by surprise, though, with his first-time effort to bend the ball into the far corner.
It looked good enough in real time, but the replays of Oscar executing his shot with the outside of his right foot made it all the more splendid.
The goal was a worthy winner of Chelsea's Goal of the Season award.
First-Half Destruction of Swansea City
3 of 10
One of Chelsea's best displays of the season came away to Swansea City when Jose Mourinho's side won 5-0.
It was mouthwatering stuff.
Within 36 minutes, the game was over after a brace of braces from Oscar and Diego Costa made it 4-0 to the Blues.
Swansea were chasing shadows for much of the afternoon, and had Chelsea not eased up after the interval, it could have been more.
It was a mesmerising display that was capped off with Andre Schurrle adding the fifth—a goal that proved to be his last in Chelsea colours.
Frank Lampard Gets a Hero's Reception on Stamford Bridge Return
4 of 10
Chelsea fans never got the opportunity to say a proper farewell to Frank Lampard when he departed the club last summer.
When he returned to Stamford Bridge in January, however, despite wearing the blue of Manchester City, he was given a rousing reception.
Lampard was a substitute that day. There were some groans when he came on midway through the second half, yet Lampard's name was sung with gusto at the final whistle.
He did a lap of honour on the pitch, and the "Super Frank" song echoed into the West London night.
Chelsea Unite Against Racism
5 of 10
One of the darkest moments in Chelsea's history, let alone their season, came in the Champions League when a group of traveling supporters racially abused a black passenger on the Paris Metro.
It was filmed by a fellow passenger ahead of the clash with Paris Saint-Germain, and the video went around the world, showing Chelsea fans in the worst possible light.
A few days later, Chelsea were in action against Burnley in the Premier League, and Blues fans took the opportunity to rally against racism.
Jose Mourinho was scathing in his criticism of the fans in Paris, and those inside Stamford Bridge echoed the club's sentiments with a show of unity.
Banners all around the stadium spoke out against racism, with the most poignant being the one shown in the image above.
"Black or white, we're all blue," it read.
Defeat of Manchester United to All but Seal the Title...
6 of 10
Defeating Manchester United 1-0 in April didn't win Chelsea the Premier League, but it went a long way to confirming the Blues as champions.
Chelsea did it their way, too.
For so long, they had faced criticism for apparently being boring. And it was those so-called negative tactics that got them over the line against Louis van Gaal's side.
Chelsea may have been the home team, but they played without the ball and refused to get sucked into a slugfest.
Jose Mourinho set up a tight ship, and Chelsea capitalised on United's willingness to attack them, thinking the game was there for the taking.
Indeed, Eden Hazard's match-winner came from United's defence being exposed with players out of position, leaving him to do the damage by finishing off a swift counter-attack.
It may not have been pretty, but it was certainly a Mourinho master class against his former mentor van Gaal.
...Before Beating Crystal Palace to Seal the Premier League Crown
7 of 10
All they needed was a goal and a clean sheet to claim the Premier League title with three games to spare, and that's exactly what Chelsea got against Crystal Palace in early May.
After a season of hard graft, it was Eden Hazard's header—the result of his earlier penalty being saved—that gave Chelsea the prize their efforts deserved.
Jose Mourinho's team had dominated the Premier League from the opening weekend, leading from the front for the entire season.
Winning the title with plenty of time to spare outlined what a fine accomplishment their triumph proved.
The Liverpool Guard of Honour
8 of 10
Given all that's passed between Chelsea and Liverpool this past decade, Chelsea's title victory was made all the more sweeter by the fact the Reds were the first team to give them a guard of honour.
Jose Mourinho explained he didn't care too much for the tradition, but facing Brendan Rodgers' side was a symbolic moment in Chelsea's development.
Almost a year to day before, it was Liverpool who were expecting to beat Chelsea at Anfield in their bid to be crowned champions.
With just two games remaining after that, three points for the Reds would have made it almost impossible for Manchester City to catch them.
Chelsea were out of the title race by that time, but they spoiled Liverpool's party with a 2-0 victory.
Fast forward 12 months, and Liverpool were clapping Mourinho's champions onto the pitch at Stamford Bridge.
Didier Drogba's Stamford Bridge Sendoff
9 of 10
Shortly before Chelsea's last game of the 2014/15 season, Didier Drogba announced it would be his last at Stamford Bridge.
The Ivorian may well be 37, but he still wants to continue playing. Given the talent Chelsea have in their squad, he knows his performances will be limited should he remain in West London.
Jose Mourinho started him against Sunderland, with Drogba playing the first 30 minutes before he was replaced by Diego Costa.
When Drogba's number was shown on the fourth official's board, the Chelsea players gave him the farewell he never received when he first left the club in 2012.
All the fans inside Stamford Bridge rose to their feet to applaud the striker, who was given an impromptu king's exit, being hoisted on high by his teammates, who carried him off the pitch.
It was a touching moment for a player who gave so much for Chelsea.
The Premier League Trophy Victory Parade
10 of 10
When you've just dominated your league and lifted the Premier League trophy, how do you want to celebrate?
In front of thousands of your supporters, of course.
That's what the Chelsea players did a day after the 2014/15 Premier League season ended, parading their trophy haul—which included the Capital One Cup—through the streets of West London.
It was the perfect end to a fine season.
Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
