Jose Mourinho and Chelsea Seal the Premier League Title in Defiant Fashion

STAMFORD BRIDGE, LONDON—His team may be dubbed as being "boring," but an ever-defiant Jose Mourinho showed he couldn't care less as Chelsea sealed a first Premier League trophy in five years with a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace.

With a title on the line, this was an edgy affair from the off, and despite the recent criticism Chelsea have come in for, the personnel left on the pitch at the final whistle reaffirmed how Mourinho puts his tactics first, popularity second.
How fitting Chelsea's title victory should be confirmed with three defensive midfielders on the pitch at the same time.
After Eden Hazard's first-half header—he nodded home the rebound after Julian Speroni had saved his penalty—Chelsea's objective was what it has been since February.
It was about lockdown and after replacing Juan Cuadrado at half-time with John Obi Mikel, Kurt Zouma was added to the mix with 10 minutes remaining.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

That meant a midfield trio of Mikel, Zouma and the dominant Nemanja Matic.
Mourinho's message was clear: Chelsea were winning the title on their terms.
Criticise his tactics, his players and even Mourinho himself, nothing can take away from the fact Chelsea are the 2014/15 Premier League champions.
They have led the table from the opening weekend and have stood out as English football's dominant team.

Only one thing on Jose Mayweather's mind. Winning!

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 3, 2015

The challenge hasn't been for Chelsea to entertain the masses; it's been for Mourinho and his men to deliver the Premier League trophy back to Stamford Bridge.
They've succeeded in doing that. It's their rivals who have failed to deliver.
What's taken the entertainment out of the title race isn't Chelsea's approach—one designed not to throw the title away—it's been the inept challenge put together by the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and, to a lesser degree, Liverpool.
Chelsea have been streets ahead of them.

Mourinho on criticism of #cfc: “To those who say we don't deserve it, in my country we say: 'The dogs bark and the caravan goes by’."

— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) May 3, 2015

It's not Mourinho's concern that City can't defend, that Arsenal have only turned on the style in the late stages when in all reality, their hopes of finishing top were slim. Very slim.
What we should admire about this Chelsea team is their ability to adapt to their surroundings.
In the first half of the season, they could afford to play more expansively and overwhelm teams with their attacking talent.

Don't blame Chelsea for a poor title race. Blame the others. #cfc

— John Cross (@johncrossmirror) May 3, 2015

It wasn't so long ago that much of Europe was salivating at Diego Costa's goalscoring form.
Indeed, before Christmas, the Spanish international was threatening to run away with the Premier League's Golden Boot award.
Injuries and suspensions have halted his season, and without their talisman leading the line, Mourinho knew Chelsea needed something else—a new approach.
The manager was wise to that. He wasn't naive enough to think Chelsea could get through without Costa; dare we say it, he wasn't arrogant enough to assume Chelsea would continue to sweep all their challengers aside in the way they had.

Clive Mason/Getty Images

Pragmatism counts for so much in football. Had Brendan Rodgers held such values, it may well have been Liverpool who Chelsea were dethroning this season.
Rodgers' team let the Premier League trophy slip through their grasp because they couldn't adjust to the demands required of them late in the 2013/14 campaign.
Chelsea did that this season and are now reaping their rewards. They are champions, and they have done it their way.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

It says so much about the character of Mourinho and his players that they are stubborn enough to not listen to the negatives that surround them.
That shows mental strength and strength of character, and the manager reminded us all of it when he refused to let Palace back into the game at Stamford Bridge.
Late on there were signs this game was opening up a little too much. Chelsea had their chances, but so too did the visitors, and often that can spell disaster.

Jose Mourinho went straight to his son to celebrate #CFC's title victory... @br_uk pic.twitter.com/iUzoBNG55G

— Garry Hayes (@garryhayes) May 3, 2015

Like they have done so often this season, Chelsea didn't allow the moment to get the better of them. They were composed, and Mourinho's willingness to unleash three defensive midfielders late on is another aspect of his brilliance.
That's why Roman Abramovich brought him back to Stamford Bridge.
That's why Chelsea are champions.
Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes