There was no need for a lap of honour. As the fireworks that had caused a power cut stopped and the realisation Chelsea had become world champions began to set in, the players realised all but two small areas of the Mohammed Bin Zayed stadium were empty.
An estimated 500 fans had made the trip from London with a slightly larger congregation travelling from India and other parts of Asia to see their team play. So the players went off to both pockets of fans, separated by thousands of seats vacated by the Palmeiras supporters who had travelled in far greater numbers.
It was a fittingly unusual end to an unusual week in the desert.
