CHELSEA players have paid their tributes to Champions League hero Didier Drogba – who today announced he was leaving the club.

As the Champagne corks popped in Munich, following Drogba's incredible 88th minute equaliser and winning penalty, his team-mates queued-up to pay tribute to the man.

First with a hint of what might be to come was John Terry , who revealed that the charismatic Ivorian had made a speech post-match.

Terry said: “Didier said a good few words (post match).”

Pushed on whether he would reveal the content of what many already thought might be a goodbye speech, Terry declined.

"No!” he said. “But he did and sometimes it's meant to be and Didier Drogba deserves that."

Frank Lampard , who captained the Blues to their Munich triumph, said: “I’ve never been so emotional in a game. And I never had any doubt about Didier scoring.

“He’s the man for the big occasion. The momentum, we felt it was going to happen.

“Players were crying, tears in their eyes. Football can do that to people.

“Didi gave a speech in the dressing room afterwards. I think he’s going to be a politician one day. The personality he brings out in the squad is as much as he does on the pitch. That’s Didi.”

John Mikel Obi added his own tribute, saying: “What more can you say about Didi? There is nothing more you can say about Didier Drogba! He is a one-off player, and it is very rare you can find a striker like that.”

And Gary Cahill summed up what many felt, buy simply saying: “Didier yet again turned up. A big man for the big occasion.”

Drogba leaves Chelsea having scored 157 goals in 341 games. While at Chelsea he won three Premier League medals, four FA Cups, two League Cups and the Champions League.

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