Drogba lauds Chelsea spirit

Didier Drogba hailed his side's never-say-die spirit after helping Chelsea claim the Champions League for the first time in their history.

The Blues beat Bayern Munich 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out after the final at the Allianz Arena had finished 1-1 after extra-time. Drogba struck the winning penalty having also headed home an 88th-minute equaliser to cancel out Thomas Muller's opener for Bayern five minutes previously.

"They never give up until the end. This team is amazing," Drogba said of his team-mates. The Ivory Coast international added on ITV: "It was written, I think, a long time ago. I want to dedicate this cup to all the managers we've had before, all the players I've played with before."

Drogba also hailed the performance of goalkeeper Petr Cech, who saved a penalty from Arjen Robben in extra-time and then also played a key part as Bayern missed twice in the shoot-out. He added: "When we have this guy in goal you have to believe."

Frank Lampard hit one of Chelsea's four successful penalties and the 33-year-old, who joined from West Ham in 2001 and captained them in John Terry's absence, savoured the club's glory night.

He said: "I can't believe it. The determination we've shown... we didn't play fantastic but the main man Didier dug us out of trouble there.

"He's a hero. Without him we're not here. He scores the goals in the big games."

Lampard said of Drogba, who is out of contract this summer: "I'd love him to stay. What he did tonight he's been doing all his career."

Of the club's triumph, Lampard said: "It means everything. We've been so many years trying to do this. This is the one we really wanted and we've got it."

Asked whether the win should lead to interim manager Roberto Di Matteo being given the job permanently, Lampard said: "It's not a question for this moment. He took us from a struggling team maybe going out of the Champions League and we won it, so look at that."