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Your support makes all the difference.Frank Lampard last night told Chelsea supporters fearing the club's greatest moment would also mark the end of an era: "This is just the beginning".
The Blues' victorious captain said he believes their Champions League triumph on Saturday will be the springboard for Chelsea to join European football's elite. "The big thing for the club now is to move on, and that will happen because the owner has the desire to move on, the players want to keep going – no one wants to settle for one win," he said.
"The owner spoke through a translator in the dressing room afterwards. He was very positive about everything. He was emotional. He really cares. People talk a lot of rubbish about Chelsea and the owner but you could see how much it meant to him."
Whether "moving on" means finding a new manager this summer, as was originally the plan when Roberto Di Matteo took over as caretaker, will be decided this week. "Roberto is certainly in the mix. He has done a great job and has to have serious consideration," said the chairman, Bruce Buck.
The chief executive, Ron Gourlay, added: "It's been an incredible few months. We brought Robbie in as an interim manager and we have seen a phenomenal change and a run of results that finished with winning the Champions League."
The players continue to give their backing to Di Matteo, although even after the most historic night in the club's history none of them believed it was a formality that he would be taken on as the permanent first-team coach.
Jon Obi Mikel said: "He will be happy with what he has done whether he gets the job or not. I personally would like him to get the job but the club will take the right decision."
On Abramovich's entrance into the dressing room to celebrate with his players, Mikel added: "He was a very happy man. I think he went home and slept well. He had always made it clear to us this is the trophy he wanted."
The striker Didier Drogba's future will also be addressed this week. Buck said: "We really need to get the new manager on board before we can start talking about players. Didier is a big-match player and he did it once again. I think Ron Gourlay is going to sit down with his agent this week and we'll see where it goes from there. We have to do what's best for Chelsea Football Club and Didier has to do what's best for him – we'll just see how the discussions go."
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