The National's Sport cover for the Sunday, April 19 issue, featuring Eden Hazard as he powered Chelsea through in a 1-0 win over Manchseter United in the Premier League.
The three points at the expense of one of Chelsea's closest rivals makes what is left of the Premier League title race largely a formality now.
“With that, surely, the Premier League title is won.
“Chelsea produced a classic Jose Mourinho performance to beat Manchester United, holding their opponents at arm’s length, waiting for the mistake and then taking advantage ruthlessly.
“For all Louis van Gaal spoke of his side’s best performance of the season, this is what Mourinho is good at, where he retains his edge, and it has been Chelsea’s capacity to get results without necessarily playing particularly well that has taken them 10 points clear of the field with six games remaining.
“It might not always have been thrilling, but nobody can seriously doubt that Chelsea, over the course of the season, have been the best team in the Premier League.”
For his part, Mourinho insists Chelsea will hold off on partying until the math is good and done.
“Football is not about ‘if’, it’s not about ‘almost’ – it’s about mathematics. When mathematically it’s done, it’s done, and we celebrate. But until that moment, we need two victories and two draws to be champion.”
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