The 2016-17 English Premier League title was gained by Chelsea for the second time in three years, with boss Antonio Conte changing into the second Italian in succession to triumph, following Claudio Ranieri and Leicester’s memorable achievement in 2016.
The Blues collected 93 factors to complete seven factors forward of Tottenham Hotspur, for his or her fifth Premier League title and sixth general. After a shaky begin, Conte’s facet went on an excellent run within the second half of the season to steer a relative procession to the crown, leaving a transitional Liverpool and Manchester United utterly of their wake.
CHANGES
The shut season, as ordinary, witnessed main upheaval as costly transfers grew to become the norm, and new managers regarded to form their squads. Louis Van Gaal was changed at Manchester United by Jose Mourinho, whereas Pep Guardiola arrived at Manchester Metropolis to a lot fanfare. Ronald Koeman swapped Southampton and St Mary’s for Everton, whereas David Moyes arrived at Sunderland following Sam Allardyce’s ill-fated departure for the England job.
On the switch entrance, Paul Pogba moved to Manchester United from Juventus for a world-record charge, whereas Sadio Mane’s arrival at Liverpool proved to be one of the vital profitable of the window. John Stones was one of the vital costly members of Guardiola’s Metropolis revolution, however N’Golo Kante’s resolution to maneuver to Chelsea from Leicester was one of many key parts within the Blues’ victory.
Hull Metropolis, Burnley and Middlesbrough have been the edges newly-promoted from the Championship, changing the relegated Newcastle United, Norwich Metropolis and Aston Villa.
SEASON SUMMARY
Because the season began it offered little indication of the dominance that was to return from Chelsea. Regardless of profitable all three of their league matches in August, September proved extra testing, with losses to Liverpool and, specifically, a 3-0 defeat at Arsenal main Conte to go for a formation change to a 3-5-2 – a call that might unlock the attacking capabilities of gamers resembling Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and Pedro.
Manchester Metropolis, in the meantime, began the season in formidable type, reaching the top of September with six wins from six, however the defensive issues started following a complete 2-0 defeat to Tottenham, adopted by attracts with Everton and Southampton. A season of missed possibilities in entrance of aim was crystallised in December, when a 3-1 loss to Chelsea regardless of dominating the sport in the end shifted the steadiness of energy to the London membership, a place from which Metropolis couldn’t get better, ultimately ending third, fifteen factors off the tempo.
No-one misplaced much less league video games in 2016-17 than Tottenham, and the attacking triumvirate of Golden Boot winner Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen produced many beautiful performances within the closing season on the previous White Hart Lane. 4 attracts in October in the end proved their downfall, with solely 10 factors dropped between December and Might, however Chelsea’s consistency throughout the identical interval proved too good.
Following the Arsenal defeat, the eventual champions racked up fourteen consecutive wins to place themselves in pole place, and from there, they by no means regarded again.
It proved to be a predictably irritating marketing campaign for the holders, Leicester; after the highs of their astonishing (and unbelievable) 2016 triumph, they recorded the worst-ever defence of a PL title, dismissing supervisor Claudio Ranieri mid-season when threatened with relegation, solely to get better and end in twelfth.
That is for my gamers. It’s a nice achievement as a result of that is the toughest championship to win on the earth, and I’ve to say due to the gamers for his or her dedication, their angle and their ardour, and their will to do one thing nice this season. Antonio Conte
Burnley bucked the development for the promoted golf equipment, securing their EPL standing, although Hull Metropolis, caught amidst a fan-ownership revolt, and Middlesbrough, whose 27 objectives proved to be the bottom within the league, couldn’t do sufficient to outlive. Perennial escapologists Sunderland couldn’t style one other unlikely run-in, in the end ending backside.
Liverpool, rejuvenated underneath Jurgen Klopp, joined Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester Metropolis within the Champions League courtesy of some thrilling attacking soccer from Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho, the latter rising as Barcelona’s prime switch goal on the finish of the season.
That meant Arsenal and Arsene Wenger’s unbelievable report of qualifying for Europe’s prime competitors each season since 1997 got here to an finish. Regardless of demolishing Chelsea at dwelling and boasting abilities resembling Alexis Sanchez (24 objectives) and Mesut Ozil, their 9 defeats – the worst report of the highest six – proved to be their downfall.
Manchester United made it 5 Premier League sides within the Champions League – however solely due to their Europa League victory over Ajax; their league type proved inconsistent at finest, notably away from dwelling.
Elsewhere, Everton have been clearly one of the best of the remainder; Romelu Lukaku was unleashed underneath Ronald Koeman, scoring 25 instances and attracting the summer time curiosity of Mourinho and Manchester United because the Toffees ended the marketing campaign a transparent seventh.
For a lot of the different sides, the principle goal set by their homeowners – survive – was achieved with various levels of consolation. However none had a solution to Chelsea’s pushed coach, gifted roster and relentless profitable mentality.
AWARDS
PLAYER OF THE SEASON
MANAGER OF THE SEASON
ANTONIO CONTE
The Italian overcame an uncertain begin to present the power of conviction to modify formation within the wake of defeat to Arsenal, and his group by no means regarded again.
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE SEASON
DELE ALLI
The aspiring English expertise continued his growth into an indispensable member of Mauricio Pochettino’s burgeoning Spurs facet.
TOP GOALSCORER
HARRY KANE – 29 GOALS
A highly-impressive 29 objectives noticed the England worldwide prime the scoring chart for the second consecutive marketing campaign.
TEAM OF THE SEASON
GOAL OF THE SEASON
EMRE CAN’S sensational overhead kick in opposition to Watford
MOST EXPENSIVE TRANSFER
PAUL POGBA
Juventus to MANCHESTER UNITED
£90m
KEY MOMENT OF THE SEASON
Antonio Conte reacting to a harmful 3-0 loss to Arsenal by reshuffling his beginning XI and formation, and in flip sending his group on a devastating 14-game profitable run that laid the inspiration for his or her title win.
