Chelsea (1) 2 v 1 (0) Watford
11 Havertz, assist Kenedy 87 Gosling, assist Masina
90+1 Barkley, assist James
Played Sunday 22 May 2022 at Stamford Bridge, attendance 32,089, Referee M Dean.
This was very much an end of season game in which Chelsea left it very late to beat relegated Watford. The Hornets’ late goal by substitute Dan Gosling looked like giving them their first point against London Clubs but an even later goal by a Blues forgotten player Ross Barkley stopped that. The game will be most remembered as the last in the Premier League (PL) for those great servants of football coaching Roy Hodgson and his assistant Ray Lewington, and the doyen of Referees Mike Dean. Thank you to all three. Leaving Chelsea are Anton Rudiger, to Real Madrid, and there may be more. One wonders how their team will look next season, and who will want to come and go even when a new owner is in place.
Chelsea did not need the win to secure 3rd place in the Premier League (PL) nor the 3rd Champions League place despite Tottenham Hotspur’s handsome 5-0 nil win at also relegated Norwich City. That win did however give Spurs 4th place in the PL and the 4th UEFA Champions League place. Son Heung-min’s two good goals gave him a well-deserved share of the Golden Boot with PL runners-up Liverpool’s Mo Salah.
Arsenal also won well (5-1 v Everton) on the final day, but could not catch their North London rivals finishing 5th in the PL and in the UEFA Europa League. The second Europa League place could have gone to West Ham United had they won at Brighton, but a weak performance left them in 7th and in the UEFA Conference League. Will that be enough to keep Captain Declan Rice who succeeds the retiring 500+ game Mark Noble?
Crystal Palace had beaten Manchester United (1-0) who stayed in 6th place because the Hammers did not win. Incidentally the inaugural UEFA Conference League was won by AS Roma managed by Jose Mourinho previously of Man Utd, Chelsea and Spurs!
That leaves Brentford, whose home defeat against Leeds United meant the Yorkshire Club stayed up. It was not however too disappointing an end to such a good start for the Bees. The PL season is now over but we shall be back with some final comments on the PLDs.
Until then “Keep Safe”, Andrew at PLDs.