Champions League
Chelsea parade CL trophy
2012-05-20 19:07
Chelsea parade trophy (Reuters)
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London - Tens of thousands of Chelsea fans gave their team a hero's welcome on Sunday 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 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 shootout, milked the cheers of the crowd.
Fans cheered and sounded horns as the bus passed along the route.
It was the first time that 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.
But amid the celebrations there's lingering uncertainty about the team's future.
Interim manager Roberto Di Matteo, who has delivered the European Cup and FA Cup in barely two months at the helm, has received no public assurances about his future.
And striker Didier Drogba, who scored the decisive penalty kick, is yet to extend his contract beyond next month.