blackburn 2-1

Independent:

Blues cruise ahead of Munich final
Chelsea 2 Blackburn Rovers 1

Nick Szczepanik


Chelsea celebrated after the final whistle yesterday by parading the FA Cup around Stamford Bridge, which summed up the lack of relevance of the previous 90 minutes. The only interest in a low-key victory was what it said about a slightly bigger occasion in Bavaria on Saturday.

For Roberto Di Matteo, the interim head coach, naming yesterday's team was a way of telling certain players that they would not be playing a key part in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich. So Romelu Lukaku, Ryan Bertrand and Sam Hutchinson started, alongside the quartet suspended for the match in Munich, while Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba were among the substitutes and Frank Lampard and Petr Cech were not even put at risk of splinters from the bench.
Florent Malouda and Daniel Sturridge might conceivably have been auditioning for a place in the starting line-up, but Malouda left early as a precaution with yet another hamstring injury – David Luiz and Gary Cahill remain doubts with the same ailment – and Sturridge fluffed his lines in front of goal on a couple of occasions.
Getting it right in the Allianz Arena could decide whether Di Matteo is given the job on a permanent basis, but yesterday he suggested that winning or losing might make no difference. "But I don't have a problem with it," he said. "It has been great. We have had a very intense nine weeks here together and we are all looking forward to next Saturday. It has been very emotional as well because I feel very responsible for this club."
While Chelsea pack for Germany, Blackburn can contemplate possible trips to Milton Keynes or Stevenage. The second-half replacement of Yakubu with David Goodwillie seemed to encapsulate a transition from Premier League to Championship.
The 21-year-old goalkeeper Jake Kean's performance prompted the unusual sound of Blackburn fans applauding a man named Kean, but he was powerless to prevent John Terry heading home on the half-hour. Raul Meireles drilled in a low shot four minutes later, and Yakubu halved the deficit in a second half whose levels of commitment recalled a particularly relaxed testimonial match.

Chelsea: TURNBULL, HUTCHINSON, IVANOVIC, TERRY, BERTRAND, MEIRELES, ESSIEN, MALOUDA, STURRIDGE, LUKAKU, RAMIRES

Blackburn: HOILETT, KEAN, MARTIN OLSSON, GIVET, DANN, HENLEY, MARCUS OLSSON, PEDERSEN, LOWE, FORMICA, YAKUBU

Scorers. Chelsea: Terry 31, Meireles 34. Blackburn: Yakubu 60
Substitutes: Chelsea Ferreira (Malouda, 43), Drogba (Lukaku, 54), Torres (Hutchinson, 69). Blackburn Morris (Formica, h-t), Rochina (Pedersen, 70), Goodwillie (Yakubu, 75). Booked: Chelsea Bertrand. Blackburn none.

Man of the match Lukaku. Match rating 6/10.
Possession: Chelsea 65% Blackburn 35%.
Attempts on target: Chelsea 5 Blackburn 5.
Referee L Mason (Lancashire). Attendance 40,742.


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Guardian:

John Terry sets Chelsea on their way to win against Blackburn

Chelsea 2 Blackburn Rovers 1

Amy Lawrence at Stamford Bridge

Seldom can a Chelsea victory have felt less significant. With all the Premier League storylines exploding elsewhere, and the Champions League final now on official countdown, all that mattered for Chelsea was a clean bill of health and an encouraging send-off. With the exception of a hamstring tweak felt by Florent Malouda, which led to him being withdrawn as a precaution, both boxes were ticked.
Most of the emotion was felt at the end of it all, when the players and Roberto Di Matteo toured the stadium to bask in the warmth of the fans. Didier Drogba gave his boots to the lucky ones in the crowd in what looked like a farewell gesture at the Bridge. Chelsea's interim coach almost sounded sentimental as he reflected on the feelings inside the team that were born out of their adventures in recent weeks: "We've had a very intense nine weeks together. It's been fantastic and we are all looking forward to next Saturday as well. It's been very emotional because I feel very responsible for this club."
It is probable that none of the team he selected here will start at the Allianz Arena on Saturday night, even though Di Matteo took a risk by introducing Drogba and Fernando Torres as substitutes. Any Bayern Munich scout would have gained little. Chelsea, though, have plenty to chew on, having seen their Champions League opponents shredded by Borussia Dortmund over the weekend.
"It was very interesting to watch the game," said Di Matteo. "I picked up a few interesting ideas, and I was very impressed with Borussia Dortmund. But Bayern are a good side. I think it's a 50-50 game for both teams."
This had the feel of a training match. Roman Abramovich was picking at his fingernails. The fans in the Matthew Harding Stand oohed and aahed as they got wind of results in the matches that mattered. In the visiting corner, the "Kean out" chants were voiced from the visitors' section from as early as the first minute.
On the pitch it felt like a stroll, as expected in a contest between one club heading to the Champions League and another to the Championship. Blackburn's debutant goalkeeper Jake Kean (no relation) pulled off a few saves early on, as Romelu Lukaku made a nuisance of himself spearing the Chelsea attack. Two goals in a three‑minute spell around the half‑hour raised the atmosphere a few notches above total relaxation. Chelsea eased in front when John Terry ambled up to make his presence felt. Lukaku sent in a searching cross and the captain planted a rising header into the net.
Then Michael Essien jinked infield from the right, and although he was taken down on the edge of the box, the referee, Lee Mason, played the advantage, and Raul Meireles took it to drill the ball into the corner. Blackburn pulled a goal back from a corner, when Yakubu Ayegbeni outjumped Terry at the far post to steer in a header. Rovers headed off with their future very much the subject of discussion.
Steve Kean is off to India for a meeting with the owners, who must have been on tenterhooks in those final Manchester moments as United missing out on the title means Blackburn miss out on a £2m bonus in the deal for Phil Jones. "The rebuilding starts straight away," said Kean, who is eager to keep hold of as many players as he can, though that looks like a thorny issue for the summer.
Chelsea's squad were granted a day off on Monday, before the preparations for Munich crank up. The emphasis at Cobham will be on helping David Luiz and Gary Cahill to get into a position where they can help the cause. "They are getting better, day by day. We're going to try and push them next week to try and get them fit. It could go down to the day of the game," said Di Matteo.
Considering he is on the cusp of a game of such monumental importance, the temporary manager could not have looked calmer.



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Telegraph:

Chelsea 2 Blackburn Rovers 1
By Gerry Cox, at Stamford Bridge

On a momentous day elsewhere in the Premier League, Chelsea’s perfunctory victory over Blackburn Rovers was nothing more than a stroll in the park, with their own day of reckoning to come in Munich next week.

With Bruce Buck, the club’s chairman and Roman Abramovich’s mouthpiece making it clear in his programme notes that finishing sixth was not 'satisfactory’ and promising that changes will be made in the summer, Roberto Di Matteo knows his only chance of the full-time role of manager will be to add the Champions League trophy to the FA Cup.

Beating Bayern Munich on their own turf will be Chelsea’s only route back into a competition in which they have been ever-present since Abramovich took over nine years ago, and would put fourth-placed Tottenham out.

So it was no surprise that Di Matteo made wholesale changes against a relegated Blackburn side, although his gamble on putting Florent Malouda in his starting line-up may have backfired when the French winger limped off with a hamstring strain before half-time.

Surprisingly he also played Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres for the final half-hour, and although they escaped uninjured, the way the Frenchman threw his boots into the crowd during a lap of honour suggested he may not be seen again in a Chelsea shirt at Stamford Bridge.

Drogba’s contract expires this summer, as does Di Matteo’s role as caretaker manager, and the chances of either being on the staff next season are not good after finishing sixth.

“We do not consider that to be satisfactory and Roman and the board will be working over the summer to try to ensure that doesn’t happen again,” wrote Buck in the programme.

Di Matteo gave few clues about his future. “I don’t have to think about it, I just have to prepare for next Saturday and try to bring the trophy home,” he said.

“Malouda has a tight hamstring so we will have to assess him over the next day or two. Hopefully he will recover.” The fitness of David Luiz and Gary Cahill will not be known until later in the week.

The central defenders will be needed in Munich because of suspensions to Branislav Ivanovic and John Terry, who opened the scoring in the 31st minute with a thumping header.

Also suspended will be midfielders Ramires and Raul Meireles, who made it 2-0 in the 34th minute with a toe punt from 20 yards after a driving run from Michael Essien.

Yakubu pulled one back on the hour with a glancing header from close range after Scott Dann had headed Morten Gamst Pedersen’s corner back across goal, but there was never much likelihood of Blackburn winning their first game at Stamford Bridge in nine years.

Steve Kean, still the subject of abuse from supporters after a dismal season, will fly to India tomorrow to meet the club’s owners, but is confident of his future.

“I’ll go out there and continue the talks about building the squad for next season,” he said. But the future is less clear for Di Matteo, even if he wins the one trophy Chelsea have never won.

“I don’t have time to think about it,” he smiled. “I’m too busy to try to analyse the situation.”


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Mail:

Chelsea 2 Blackburn 1: Di Matteo sign-off stroll as Chelsea finish the season in sixth place
By Laura Williamson

Roberto di Matteo had the look of a man saying farewell as he strolled around the pitch after watching Chelsea wrap up a routine win against already relegated Blackburn Rovers.
The club's interim coach said he did not think success in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich on Saturday would decide his future, but insisted he had 'no problem' with the possibility of being replaced after guiding the club to European glory.
Didier Drogba, too, had the demeanour of a man saying goodbye.
The 34-year-old striker threw his fluorescent orange boots into the crowd after his energetic 36-minute substitute appearance.
Drogba is out of contract next month and, with a £130,000-a-week, two-year deal at Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua virtually sealed, this felt like his chance to thank the fans.
Chelsea eased to a 2-0 lead through a John Terry header and a Raul Meireles strike before half-time, then Yakubu pulled one back for Blackburn on the hour after he deflected Scott Dann's header past Ross Turnbull.
But with both teams' positions already decided, this fixture was always about looking forward.
Whether either manager will be in charge come August remains to be seen.
Sixth is Chelsea's lowest finish under Roman Abramovich's ownership; a situation chairman Bruce Buck said in his programme notes is not satisfactory.
But Di Matteo still has the chance to deliver the prize the Russian covets most, and he rested key players such as Frank Lampard, Petr Cech and Ashley Cole ahead of the Champions League final.
Drogba and Fernando Torres were, surprisingly, introduced from the bench in the second half and Daniel Sturridge was given a full 90 minutes to stake his claim in the centre.
His audition was hardly a success, although he did marginally better on the right as the game wore on. But Sturridge's control let him down twice: he neglected an excellent opportunity to play Ryan Bertrand in on the left and missed two chances with his head.
'It was a risk whoever was going to play today,' said Di Matteo.
'We wanted to win and try and get through it without injuries and more or less we achieved both.'
Blackburn must now look forward to the Championship.
The chants of 'Steve Kean out' took less than 60 seconds to surface, but the Blackburn boss was, once again, resilient about his future, talking animatedly about the need to retain players such as Junior Hoilett and strengthen again in the summer.
At least debutant goalkeeper Jake Kean, 21, excelled in place of the injured Paul Robinson.

CHELSEA: Turnbull, Hutchinson (Torres 69), Ivanovic, Terry, Bertrand, Essien, Meireles, Ramires, Malouda (Ferreira 43), Sturridge, Lukaku (Drogba 54). Unused subs: Hilario, Cole, Romeu, Piazon.
Goals: Terry 31, Meireles 34
Booked: Bertrand

BLACKBURN: Kean, Henley, Dann, Givet, Martin Olsson, Formica (Morris 46), Lowe, Pedersen (Rochina 70), Marcus Olsson, Hoilett, Yakubu (Goodwillie 75). Unused Subs: Usai, Modeste, Grella, Petrovic.
Goals: Yakubu 60
Referee: Lee Mason


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Mirror:

Chelsea 2-1 Blackburn: Farewell to Drogba and Di Matteo?
John Terry and Raul Meireles ended the season on a high before being forced to miss the Champions League Final

Wish them luck as you wave them goodbye - tally ho, off they go, bon voyage.
But that's enough about Blackburn - for Didier Drogba and Roberto Di Matteo, the future is less certain after Chelsea sleepwalked towards their Champions League destiny.
As talisman Drogba, out of contract and primed for a Chinese takeaway at Shanghai Shenhua, gave away his fluorescent orange boots to fans in the Matthew Harding stand on the Blues' lap of honour, his body language had the air of a long goodbye.
After 340 appearances and 156 goals in eight years, the smart money is on the Drog bidding farewell in Munich.
And interim manager Di Matteo lifted the FA Cup with the sheepish demeanour of a man who won't be in charge at Stamford Bridge next season - even if he completes a European Cup miracle in Bavaria on Saturday night.
Asked if his fate rested on beating Bayern Munich in their own Allianz Arena, Di Matteo was resigned to his fate, saying: "I don't think so. I have no problem with it - I will just prepare the team to bring home the trophy if we can.
"My wife has booked a holiday and I'm looking forward to it. If there is anything important to talk about, mobile phones work all over the world these days.
"I feel very responsible for this club. This was a very emotional day to sign off, and I am very proud to have been part of it."
Just in case Chelsea oligarch Roman Abramovich needs to get in touch, Di Matteo will be playing in a pro-am golf tournament at Wentworth on Wednesday week, and the following weekend he is booked to appear in a Legends tournament in Barbados.
But don't bank on that call, RDM. Five wins out of 11 Premier League games in charge is not an irresistible job application to set before demanding Russian paymasters.
And Blues chairman Bruce Buck, writing in yesterday's match programme, warned ominously: "We do not consider a sixth-placed finish to be satisfactory... Roman and the board will be working over the summer to try and ensure that doesn't happen again."
Di Matteo described his compatriot Roberto Mancini's title triumph as "an incredible finish - it sounds a bit like a movie." The Italian Job, perhaps?
For Chelsea to shoot their own sequel, Di Matteo will need all hands on deck to cover for their multitude of suspensions. Neither David Luiz nor Gary Cahill, both on the comeback trail from hamstring injuries, featured yesterday - but both will be "pushed" in training tomorrow to determine whether they have any chance of facing Bayern.
As for Drogba, who was serenaded by refrains reverberating around SW6 pleading with him to stay, the Ivory Coast striker was denied a valedictory goal at the Bridge in his 36-minute encore as substitute for raw heir apparent Romelu Lukaku.
Chelsea should have won by a distance after skipper John Terry's header and a toe-poke from Raul Meireles had put them 2-0 up inside 34 minutes.
Relegated Rovers we can dismiss summarily. They went through the motions of a fightback, and Yakubu's 18th goal of the season gave them hope, but eight defeats in their last nine games tells its own ruinous story.
Travelling fans from the land of Ecky Thump spent 90 minutes calling for the removal of manager Steve Kean and Indian chicken tycoons Venky's, the Colonel Sanders and Bernard Matthews of the subcontinent.
And as they slipped through the trapdoor, Rovers were game as a drumstick and Kean, who still believes he will be in charge at Ewood Park next season, claimed they could have nicked a point.
Kean insisted: "The rebuilding starts now, beginning with fighting to keep the players we've got under contract. No doubt there will be big clubs swarming around."
Form an orderly queue - Junior Hoilett, Yakubu, Martin Olsson and Steven Nzonzi will lead the stampede for the exit.


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Sun:

Chelsea 2 Blackburn 1
By ROB BEASLEY

ROMAN ABRAMOVICH joined in the end-of-season salute but next week it will still be the big boot for some Chelsea stars.

Didier Drogba, Paulo Ferreira and Robbie di Matteo are all expected to head through the exit door after Saturday’s Champions League final against Bayern Munich.

The futures of Michael Essien, Florent Malouda, Raul Meireles and Ross Turnbull are also under the microscope.

Rest assured it is going to be all change once again in SW6.
Chairman Bruce Buck made no secret about it after a poor league campaign concluded with a win over relelgated Blackburn.

It means that Chelsea finished sixth and 25 points behind Manchester City.
Buck barked: “We do not consider that to be satisfactory and Roman and the board will be working over the summer to try and ensure that doesn’t happen again.”

And we all know what that means. Which is why Drogba seemed to be waving goodbye at the end and handing his boots to a fan in the Matthew Harding Stand,

The Ivorian can leave with his head held high after smashing 156 goals in 274 appearances in the eight years since his £24million signing from Marseille in 2004.

No wonder the Chelsea fans do not want him to go off to China. In the 11th minute, to coincide with his shirt number, the Bridge united to sing his name.

He waved from the subs’ bench and early in the second half the 34-year-old was handed the chance to give a farewell performance.

A goodbye goal eluded him but still the fans bellowed: “Didier Drogba, we want you to stay.”

Abramovich would have heard but do not bet on him paying notice. It is the same with “interim” boss Di Matteo. The fans sang “There’s only one Di Matteo” during the match and as he paraded the FA Cup afterwards. But he is resigned to leaving.

Asked if beating Bayern Munich would determine his fate, he replied: “I don’t think so, no, but I have no problem with that.

“It has been great, we’ve had an intense few weeks together. It’s been fantastic and emotional as I feel a big responsibility with this club as I’ve been such of part of it.”

An FA Cup winner as player and as manager means he is assured the status of a Bridge legend. Bringing home the Champions League would make him arguably the club’s greatest boss.

But his summer plans are not the much needed rebuilding of this once great side. It is a celebrity golf tournament at Wentworth, a veteran’s football tour to Barbados and a family holiday in Miami. Proof enough he is not expecting the job.

But he is determined to go out on a high. He smiled: “I want to go there and bring the trophy back.”

That is a tough call against a Bayern Munich side with home advantage and Chelsea missing banned skipper John Terry, key defender Branislav Ivanovic and midfielders Meireles and Ramires.

And RDM admits a decision on centre-backs Gary Cahill and David Luiz could go right down to matchday in Munich to give the defensive pair as long as possible to overcome hamstring strains.

Malouda also fell victim to the dreaded hamstring, substituted in the first half after tweaking his against Rovers. But at least Chelsea signed off with a win.

Terry put Blues in front on the half-hour, thundering home a towering header from the lively Romelu Lukaku’s cross.

And Meireles made it two with a firm, low drive after great work from Essien in the box.

Blackburn pulled one back, Yakubu nodding in his 18th goal of the season.
Ramires hit the bar, Fernando Torres was denied a clear penalty and Daniel Sturridge missed a sitter as Chelsea tried to end with a flourish. It did not happen.

But it might in Munich — and that is a hell of a way to say goodbye.

STAR MAN — RAMIRES (CHELSEA)
CHELSEA: Turnbull 6, Hutchinson 6 (Torres 5), Ivanovic 7, Terry 7, Bertrand 7, Meireles 6, Essien 6, Malouda 5 (Ferreira 6), Ramires 8, Lukaku 7 (Drogba 6), Sturridge 6. Subs not used: Hilario, Cole, Romeu, Piazon. Booked: Bertrand.

BLACKBURN: Kean 7, Henley 6, Dann 7, Givet 5, Martin Olsson 5, Formica 5 (Morris 6), Lowe 6, Pedersen 5 (Rochina 5), Marcus Olsson 6, Hoilett 7, Yakubu 7 (Goodwillie 5). Subs not used: Usai, Modeste, Grella, Petrovic.

REF: L Mason 7


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Express:

CHELSEA 2 - BLACKBURN 1: FINAL FAREWELL FOR ROBERTO DI MATTEO? 
By Tony Banks

THE Chelsea faithful waved their heroes off to Munich, waved goodbye to a topsy-turvy season – and probably bade farewell to a few familiar faces as well.
In five days’ time in Munich’s Allianz Arena awaits Chelsea’s date with destiny in the shape of the Champions League final, an event which totally overshadowed yesterday’s end-of-season party.
But as Didier Drogba handed his orange boots to the crowd and interim boss Roberto Di Matteo waved to the fans, it was hard to escape the feeling that it could be the end of an era for some.
Di Matteo still does not know if he will get the job permanently, even if he beats Bayern Munich on Saturday. And Drogba, barring any dramatic change of heart, is bound for Shanghai Shenhua this summer after eight glorious years and 156 goals at the club.
For the record, Chelsea mostly played the kids and those banned for Saturday’s final – and won their final league game of the season thanks to first-half goals from skipper John Terry and midfielder Raul Meireles .

A resigned Di Matteo said: “This has been a very emotional day. I was glad to be a part of it. I feel very responsible for this club.
“I don’t think my fate rests on what happens in the final. I have got no problem with that. All I am concerned about right now is preparing the team for the game and bringing the trophy home.”
The Italian, who last week steered his team to victory in the FA Cup final, is expected to have to beat Bayern to stand any chance of getting the job – and even then there is no guarantee, with Pep Guardiola and Fabio Capello still among owner Roman Abramovich’s favourites.
His team’s failure to finish above sixth in the league – with just five wins from 11 games – has not gone down well. Chairman Bruce Buck wrote ominously in the programme: “We will finish sixth. We do not consider that to be satisfactory and Roman and the board will be working over the summer to try and ensure that doesn’t happen again.”
Terry had nodded Chelsea into the lead from Romelu Lukaku’s cross and, four minutes later, Meireles cracked in the second after a mazy run from Michael Essien. The already relegated Blackburn pulled a goal back as Yakubu nodded in from point-blank range, but Chelsea should have won by more.
An added worry for Di Matteo was Florent Malouda pulling up with a hamstring strain. He now could also be doubtful for Munich as the injury list mounts.
Defenders David Luiz and Gary Cahill both face a race against time with similar injuries.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Turnbull 6; Hutchinson 7 (Torres 69, 6), Ivanovic 7, Terry 7, Bertrand 7; Meireles 7, Essien 7; Ramires 8, Sturridge 7, Malouda 7 (Ferriera 42, 6); Lukaku 7 (Drogba 54, 6). Booked: Bertrand. Goals: Terry 31, Meireles 34.
Blackburn (4-4-2): Kean 6; Henley 6, Dann 6, Givet 6, Martin Olsson 6; Formica 6 (Morris 46 6), Lowe 6, Pedersen 6 (Rochina 71, 6), Marcus Olsson 6; Hoilett 6, Yakubu 6 (Goodwillie 75, 6). Goal: Yakubu 60.
Referee: L Mason (Lancashire).


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Star:

CHELSEA 2 - BLACKBURN 1: BLUES ARE TOLD THAT SIX IS A TURN-OFF

By Adrian Kajumba

AFTER a Premier League season to forget, Chelsea are hoping they have a Champions League night to remember.
The Blues rounded off their league campaign with a routine win over Blackburn thanks to goals from John Terry and Raul Meireles.
But this victory against already-relegated Blackburn didn’t really matter. Sixth-place and the worst finish of the Roman Abramovich era was already confirmed.
The Blues’ season will come down to Saturday’s Champions League Final against Bayern Munich.
Their hopes of being in the competition next season are dependent on winning it.
Roberto Di Matteo’s team reflected that and Chelsea fans sang non-stop about going to Munich.
Di Matteo’s hopes of landing the Blues job full time could also come down to what happens in Munich.
Chairman Bruce Buck, reflecting on sixth place in his programme notes, ominously said: “We do not consider that to be satisfactory and Roman and the board will be working over the summer to try and ­ensure that doesn’t happen again.”
Di Matteo said: “I don’t think next week’s result will have an impact (on whether I get the job). I just have to pick a team and try and bring the trophy home.
“I’m too busy with other things to be able to sit down and analyse the ­situation. It’s a job for after the final.”
The Blues interim boss sounded a little resigned to his fate, though, after an emotional walk around the Stamford Bridge pitch at full-time.
He said: “We have had a very ­intense nine weeks together. It’s been ­fantastic and we are all ­looking ­forward to next Saturday.
“It’s been very emotional because I feel very responsible for this club. It’s been a nice day.”
Di Matteo’s team-sheet showed his thoughts were on Munich. Michael Essien was the only starter in with a shout of featuring from the off in Germany.
Instead, the back-up boys were in, including Sam Hutchinson who made his first Blues start after ­recovering from the knee injury that forced him to retire in 2010.
Blackburn gave a debut to rookie keeper Jake Kean and he had a busy first half hour in goal.
He denied Florent Malouda, ­Romelu Lukaku twice and Meireles.
But Chelsea were cutting through with such ease and Terry made it 1-0 when he timed a surprise 31st-minute run into the box perfectly to power a header into the top corner from Lukaku’s cross.
It was 2-0 three minutes later. Essien dribbled in from the left and was tripped just inside the box by Gael Givet.
But it didn’t matter as the ball ran to Meireles, who smashed it in from 20 yards.
Chelsea then suffered a scare when Malouda limped off with a hamstring strain.
Rovers threatened to make a game of it when Yakubu nodded in Scott Dann’s knockdown on the hour.
Ramires was inches away from making it 3-1 but hit the bar with a lob.
The rest of the half was all about whether sub Didier Drogba would sign off with a farewell goal before his move to China. He wasn’t far away from doing it, sending a spectacular dipping volley inches wide.
Di Matteo remained tight-lipped on whether Drogba was off, but the long waves goodbye during Chelsea’s lap of honour said it all.
Blackburn were definitely saying farewell to the Premier League after 11 years.
Boss Steve Kean said: “I’ll get out to India to see the owners next week and we’ll continue the talks we’ve ­already had, to build a squad that’s competitive for next season.”