It was announced before Sunday's clash between Chelsea and Sunderland that it would be Didier Drogba's final game for the London club. The striker said that he would like to continue on for at least one more season but would prefer to see more first team action.
I want to play for at least one more season and in order to play more football I feel I need to go to another club. All the fans know my love for Chelsea and I hope to be back here in the future in another role.
Drogba started the game against Sunderland but, in a pre-planned move, was withdrawn after 28 minutes. His departure from the pitch was anything but usual. Rather than the typical arm over the shoulder of the physio amble to the sideline you normally see with someone replaced that early in the game, the Ivorian was given a chairlift by Branislav Ivanovic and John Obi Mikel.
In all it took two minutes for him to leave the pitch. Here it is condensed down to six seconds.
Amazing send off for #Drogba from the Chelsea players. https://t.co/c5NMnihdiH
— Betfair (@Betfair) May 24, 2015