The end of the evening was in stark contrast to the start, as a stubborn West Brom defended deep and in numbers and frustrated Chelsea.
It completed a remarkable turnaround from the depths of last season, when a dark, Jose Mourinho-shaped cloud enveloped the club, spreading misery and fear. I don't think Antonio will expect anything different.
A win at West Bromwich Albion on Friday would be enough to claim the trophy for the fifth time under Roman Abramovich's ownership, and exorcise the memories of last season's mid-table under-achievement.
Substitute Nacer Chadli shot wide at the end of another break as Chelsea looked uncharacteristically vulnerable, but any concerns were put to bed as Azpilicueta made the most of Cahill's wayward effort to find Batshuayi, who picked the flawless time to score his first Premier League goal since August and get Chelsea's title celebrations under way in earnest. Italian teams are tactically organised and well run.
He added: "If you ask me for one [definitive] moment when I knew we could compete for the title, I didn't see one".
"I don't think my physical abilities are the best - I'm not the quickest, I'm not the strongest, I'm not the sharpest, so you have to be ahead of the game if a player like me wants to succeed in football", he said. "You can not buy big players and say, 'We do not want the ball.' Big players want the ball". All we have for the final couple of weeks are mostly dead rubber games.
So often in 2016-2017 the likes of Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and Pedro have been the men to inspire the Blues, but on this occasion it was the Belgium international's turn to revel in the spotlight.
The 47-year-old has rejuvenated Chelsea, champions under Mourinho in 2015-16 before imploding and finishing 10th last term.
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May 10, 6:46 pm: The White House provides an official "timeline" of the decision to fire Comey, sent to press via a pool report. According to The Wall Street Journal, Rosenstein asked that the White House correct the record about his role in the firing.
"If, in the future, we decide to extend the contract, we'll decide this", Conte said.
West Brom nearly took the lead against the run of play on 70 minutes through Salomon Randon who turned David Luiz inside but his shot from 10 yards came off a Chelsea defender and went away for a corner.
"People have written us off as a team and individually", Chelsea defender Gary Cahill said, "and this has shut them up".
It is also reported that the Blues installed an agreement in the Columbian speed machine's three-year loan deal that would allow the Italian side to take him on permanently for a fee of £8.4million.
"At the start of the season it wasn't easy".
If you look at the last three title winners - Manchester City, Leicester and Chelsea, those clubs do not generate the same global interest or support as Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal do.
Chelsea's players, staff and fans certainly enjoyed the moment on the pitch at the Hawthorns on Friday night after securing the title, but knowing Conte his mind will have already thought about how he can replicate this incredible success next season.
"We'll give it our best".
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