The Chelsea football manager Jose Mourinho says he feels proud after his team were crowned English Premier League champions, but admits he is "tired" and "needs a rest".
Chelsea's Ivorian striker Didier Drogba celebrates the victory with teammates. Photo: AFP
Mourinho's side secured their fourth Premier League title by beating Crystal Palace 1-nil at an ecstatic Stamford Bridge.
They now have an unassailable lead with three games remaining.
The League's Player of the Year Eden Hazard scored the only goal of the game just before half-time when he followed up his own missed penalty.
Chelsea withstood heavy pressure from Palace to hold on for the three points they needed and claim their first Premier League title in five years.
The win sparked raucous scenes around their home ground, with their ever-present skipper John Terry leading the celebrations with veteran striker Didier Drogba.
Chelsea have lost only twice all season.
"I am very happy and proud. I need a rest, I'm tired. It's not easy to cope with that, but finally mathematically we are champions now," said a calm and measured José Mourinho.
"Finally we can breathe, relax and enjoy. We can look back and see how much we deserve to be champions," the manager said.
With blue ticker tape raining down, Chelsea's players completed a lap of honour with ironic chants of "boring, boring Chelsea" ringing out.
"It's an unbelievable feeling," Terry, who sunk to his knees on hearing the final whistle, told Sky Sports. "We've worked so hard, so to get over the line is great.
"This is what I live for. It's been five years since we've won it. The first one was special and you go four or five years without it and that hurts. So I'll really enjoy it today."
Victory moved Chelsea to 83 points from 35 games - 13 points clear of Manchester City who hid the disappointment of handing over their title by winning 1-nil at sixth-placed Tottenham Hotspur in Sunday's late kickoff.
City are three clear of Arsenal in the race for runners-up spot with the Gunners, who have five games to play, at relegation battlers Hull City on Monday.
