3 minute read
Chelsea fans have welcomed home their European Cup winners as the London football club's officials get down to decision-making over personnel.
Tens of thousands of Chelsea fans have given their team a hero's welcome as they made an open-top bus parade through their west London home after their Champions League win over Bayern Munich.
Blue-clad fans lined the streets and roared their delight on Sunday as the hero of Saturday's victory, Didier Drogba, held the trophy aloft, flanked by captain John Terry, who was suspended for the final in Munich.
The bus was emblazoned with a banner proclaiming 'Champions of Europe' and Drogba, who scored the decisive spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out, milked the cheers of the crowd.
Fans cheered, hung from lampposts and sounded horns as the bus passed along the route.
Midfielder Frank Lampard, the captain in the final, told the crowd: "We've been here a long time waiting to win this thing and it was the most amazing night of all of our careers.
"And we're just so pleased to come back here and celebrate with all our fans. You've been amazing. Thank you, thank you, thank you. The best club in the world - easy."
It was the first time Chelsea have won Europe's biggest club prize and fulfilled the ambition of their oligarch owner, Roman Abramovich, who has pumped hundreds of millions of pounds into the club.
The Russian owner and interim manager Roberto di Matteo were onboard as the bus made its way through the streets of south-west London.
Di Matteo's future is in the balance but his three-month audition, since being promoted from assistant to fired coach Andre Villas-Boas, has resulted in Europe's coveted club trophy plus the FA Cup.
"Roberto is certainly in the mix and he's done a great job for us and he has to have serious consideration," Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said on Sunday.
"We've put (the appointment) aside for the last five to eight weeks. Now in the next few weeks we have to sit down, figure it out and do what's best for Chelsea."
Chief executive Ron Gourlay will hold talks with Drogba's agent this week.
"There's a number of things we've got to look at and we'll review where we are and take it from there, but it's a phenomenal turnaround really," Gourlay said of the victories.
While veteran Drogba, 34, could be on his way out after a hugely successful eight-year stay, he was met with chants of "we want you to stay" by grateful fans lining the route.
The Ivory Coast striker responded by grabbing the microphone and leading them in a rendition of We Are The Champions.
It was a double celebration for the night's other hero, goalkeeper Petr Cech, who turned 30 on Sunday.
The Czech shot-stopper, who saved two penalties during the encounter, was serenaded with a chorus of Happy Birthday.
Fans also indulged in the quirky ritual of throwing celery at the players; a tradition that began in the late 1980s when the club's supporters started throwing sticks in the air while chanting bawdy lyrics.
