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LONDON. — Didier Drogba drew a line under his second spell at Chelsea as Jose Mourinho’s side wrapped up their Premier League title-winning campaign with a 3-1 victory over Sunderland at Stamford Bridge yesterday.

Diego Costa confirmed his status as the club’s No 1 striker with his 20th league goal of the season, a 36th minute penalty to cancel out Steven Fletcher’s opening goal before Loic Remy completed the win with two second half goals.

Drogba, meanwhile, was carried from the field by his teammates when he was replaced after a brief, 28-minute appearance that had all the signs of a final farewell.

There was always going to be a celebratory air to this game, particularly since Sunderland secured their Premier League future with the midweek draw at Arsenal, ensuring there was nothing at stake for either team.

And the mood was set before kick-off when members of Chelsea’s 2005 title-winning team were reunited on the pitch before kick-off to mark the 10th anniversary of that success.

Three of that team — Drogba, John Terry and Petr Cech — were in the starting as Chelsea set the seal on their fourth title in a decade. But of those three, only Terry is expected to still be at the club when it begins its title defence in August and Jose Mourinho’s decision to name Drogba as captain and start with Cech in goal added to the sense this game was as much about signing off and saying goodbye as it was gaining three more points in a campaign long since over.

Mourinho’s competitive nature was never going to allow his side to coast, especially in the wake of Monday’s 3-0 loss at West Bromwich Albion, Chelsea’s third defeat of the league season. — AFP.