The Chelsea title winners of 2004/05 have gone down as legends of the club’s history, however some players do not get the recognition that they deserve.
Jose Mourinho led the club to its first league title in 50 years when they were crowned Premier League champions, and a number of players went on to enjoy a lot more success at Stamford Bridge.
John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba are amongst those who are seen as legends of the Blues, however they were not the only players who made their impact on the side who toppled the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal.
The Chelsea Chronicle have highlighted three players whose impact was underrated on the first of Mourinho’s three Premier League titles with Chelsea.
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The unsung heroes of Chelsea’s first ever Premier League title win
William Gallas
While many point to the brilliance of Terry and Ricardo Carvalho as the glue to the best defence the league has ever seen, William Gallas played a huge role in multiple positions at the back.
The Frenchman started 28 games for the Blues in this season, with a large amount of those in the left-back position.
He scored twice in three games in the middle of the season in dominant victories against West Brom and Fulham, and was a frequent inclusion from Mourinho in his starting side for crucial games.
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Arjen Robben
Perhaps better known for the impact he had on the game after leaving Chelsea, Arjen Robben also played a key role for the Blues before departing for Real Madrid.
The Dutchman was on fire in front of goal before injuries put pause on his season. He scored seven goals in the Premier League despite making just 14 starts.
Robben was frustrating for opponents to play against, with him being one of the members of the squad alongside Drogba who was very good at winning fouls in the attacking area.
Tiago Mendes
Despite being a relative unknown in comparison to the rest of the squad, Tiago Mendes made an incredible 51 appearances in all competitions for the Blues during the 2004/05 campaign.
He scored four goals in the Premier League, including an outrageous strike from distance in a 3-1 win over United.
Tiago only played for Chelsea for one season, however more than made his mark in a side that also included Lampard and Claude Makelele.