DIDIER Drogba spoke emotionally about his time at Chelsea after Saturday Champions League triumph – his words seeming for all the world like a farewell speech.
The game's official man of the match, who received a round of applause from the assembled media as he left a 1am post-match press conference, has not signed a new deal with the club.
But in many ways, events in the Allianz Arena would be impossible to top, so it may just persuade him to seek one final challenge elsewhere.
“I've been here eight years and always so close, and so far at the same time. But now the cup is going back to Stamford Bridge and it's the best feeling ever,” he said.
“I think today is a big achievement to the squad and I just want to say thank to all the players I've played with and the managers who helped me as a player and a person. I'm very happy.
“I don't think we can take decisions at emotional moments like this. The most important thing is not my future, but the way we were fighting to win this cup – and the way the fans were supporting us, even when we conceded a goal.
“The way we played this season in the Champions League, I think we are a great champion and deserve to be champion. You can say it's in our DNA – the spirit and the winning mentality.”
Drogba added: “Today is a great day for the club, for the fans and for the players and I'm just really happy. I don't think there are enough words to describe how I feel now.
“In Moscow it was very difficult – very painful for us and today we managed to change it. Again it was an amazing game, a crazy game. We gave everything and I don't know if we've got enough energy to party tonight.
“I was confident before going to take the final penalty. I still had it in my head what happened in the African Nations Cup when I missed one in the final, but at the same time I was confident.
“And because Petr Cech made some great saves and is the best goalkeeper in the world, when I went to take it, I wanted to score for him and my team-mates. I wanted to make Chelsea smile.
“It's the last kick of the season and what a way to end it. I think we're going to enjoy it and we're going to party together.”
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