LONDON, England — Didier Drogba delivered the fatal blow as Chelsea swept three points clear in their Champions League group after a 2-0 victory against Bundesliga hopes Schalke at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

Drogba’s future has been the subject of great speculation following the departure of Jose Mourinho — but there is no doubting his commitment to the immediate cause under new manager Avram Grant.

Ivorian Drogba helped set up the first goal after four minutes when he flicked on a long ball into the path of Florent Malouda who got the better of his marker Rafinha before despatching a left-foot shot which Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer inexplicably allowed to roll through his arms and into the back of the net.

Drogba’s effort came two minutes into the second half when he met Paulo Ferreira’s cross from the right with a diving header at the near post.

In the night’s other Group B clash, Yssouf Kone and Vidar Riseth scored in the second half to give Norway’s Rosenborg a 2-0 home win over Valencia and second place behind Chelsea.

Chelsea’s previous home game in the competition turned out to be Mourinho’s last in charge and since his exit, Grant has brought in Dutchman Henk ten Cate from Ajax to help him mastermind the new-look, attacking approach.

Grant has lost just once since the club’s billionaire owner Roman Abramovich handed the 52-year-old Israeli the job and Malouda’s goal settled Chelsea’s nerves.

Frank Lampard should have done better with a glancing header from Drogba’s cross after 12 minutes but he directed his effort over the bar. Michael Essien was equally wasteful in the 25th minute when he rose unchallenged to head a corner from Malouda over the top from eight yards.

Schalke, who had lost their key striker Kevin Kuranyi though injury during the pre-match warm-up, gave Chelsea a scare two minutes later when Carlos Grossmuller’s goal was ruled out for offside.

Drogba then put the result beyond doubt and has now scored twice in successive games since announcing in a magazine interview last week that he wanted to quit the club — later saying he regretted making his comments public.

Schalke were unlucky when Kuranyi’s replacement Soren Larsen saw his effort cannon back off Petr Cech’s right-hand upright and into the arms of the Chelsea goalkeeper.

Rosenborg’s Kone forced the ball past goalkeeper Santiago Canizares in the 53rd minute, taking a pass from Mikael Dorsin, who races down the left before cutting the ball back for his team-mate.

Rosenborg double their advantage after 61 minutes. A cross is delivered from the left and despite Carlos Marchena’s best efforts to clear, Riseth nods the ball in from close range.

The victory gives Rosenborg four points after three games in Group B, while Valencia has three points.