The Italian employed just 24 players throughout the top-flight campaign, with the most regular 11 being responsible for 85.5 per cent of all minutes played – the highest concentration across Europe’s top leagues.

He was also the only coach to use all three substitutes in every single Premier League game. His changes had the desired effect, too. In total, replacement players accounted for 13 goals in the campaign. They were scored by Michy Batshuayi (4), Fabregas (2), Pedro (2), Willian (2), Eden Hazard, Branislav Ivanovic, and Victor Moses.

The statistics speak volumes. Chelsea topped the away league table with 13 wins from the 19 possible and registered the most home victories and the fewest draws.

More Blues players took on an opponent than any other side, accounting for the most goals from set-plays (22) and counter-attacks (7), but the fewest from the penalty spot apart from Middlesbrough and West Bromwich Albion.

The only side fouled more often this season than the west Londoners (468 times) were Bournemouth, who were also the sole side found guilty of fewer infringements (368) than the Blues (395).

Between them Eden Hazard (101) and Diego Costa (92) were unlawfully impeded by the opposition on 193 occasions. (On the other hand, they committed 19 and 43 fouls respectively).

Speaking of that attacking pair, there were six goals in 2016/17 where one assisted the other to score (taking their total since 2014 to 10). Diego Costa and Hazard both put their names on the scoresheet on seven occasions – once more than in 2014/15.

Cesar Azpilicueta played every minute of every league game. Leaving aside goalkeepers, only three previous title-winners have done so: Manchester United’s Gary Pallister (1992/93) and Wes Morgan of Leicester City (2015/16), along with John Terry for Chelsea’s 2014/15 champions.