EPL FOOTBALL: Didier Drogba Carried Off By Chelsea Team-Mates During Final Game

Didier Drogba is carried off by his Chelsea team-mates after suffering an injury in the first half

In terms of emotional farewells, Didier Drogba had a lot to live up to after his initial Chelsea exit.

The Ivorian striker headed the Blues' late equalizer before converting the crucial penalty in the 2012 Champions League final in Munich and announced his departure in the days following that European triumph.

Daily Mail UK reports:

Drogba – captaining the side ahead of John Terry – didn't appear to be carrying an injury but was withdrawn after just 28 minutes. 

While many substituted that early would limp off or opt for a stretcher, it wasn't quite enough for the man Jose Mourinho calls Chelsea's 'king'.

When asked if it was disrespectful to the visitors afterwards, Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat said: 'Not at all. Mr Mourinho before the game he came to me and he explained it. We knew what would happen and no problem at all. And the player deserves it too.'

As his number went up on the fourth official's board, Drogba was lifted on to the shoulders of his team-mates and paraded to the touchline to cheers from the Stamford Bridge crowd.

Upon being put down, the 37-year-old whipped off his shirt to salute all four sides of the ground. Between the shirt removal and the timewasting he might have even picked up two bookings and a red card. Fortunately, referee Chris Foy has a sentimental side.

Drogba's replacement, Diego Costa, went on to net Chelsea's equalizer from the penalty spot and the injured frontman even jokingly gestured to his manager to bring him back on.

The legendary striker, who has seven goals since his return to Chelsea last summer, missed an early chance to open the scoring when he couldn't make a clean contact on Willian's low cross.

And a twist and turn inside the area after 12 minutes did not lead to the shot he needed for one last goal to add to his 164 strikes in 382 appearances across his two spells.

So a second dream end wasn't to be, although with a fourth Barclays Premier League title to add to his collection, Drogba can hardly argue with his final season in blue.

'It's a difficult moment for me,' Drogba said when addressing the fans after the game. 'This one is really special because it's going to be the last one as a player.

'Everybody wants to compare the team in 2004-2005 to this team. I want to say to the young players, you might be the best but you have to catch us! Be the best, we're going to be behind you, you have the best fans in the world behind you. Thank you. I love you guys, I love you.'