Chelsea advanced to the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 3-2 win over Luton Town just hours after Roman Abramovich put the club up for sale on Wednesday. With their heads still spinning from Abramovich’s shock revelation, Thomas Tuchel’s side headed to the Kenilworth Road pitch for the fifth round tie. In the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Russian billionaire has opted to sell Chelsea for fear of being sanctioned by the British government. With an asking price of GBP 3 billion ($4 billion), Abramovich, who is said to have close relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, will donate the net revenues from the sale to victims of the Ukraine war.
After helping Chelsea win 19 major trophies during his 19-year rule, Abramovich confessed it was “very tough” to relinquish control of the club.
On the day when the Abramovich era came to an end, it was Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku who completed Chelsea’s escape act.
Chelsea fell behind twice against second-tier Luton before Lukaku scored the game-winning goal late on to save their blushes.
In the final blockbuster transfer of his tenure, Abramovich sanctioned the club record GBP 97 million transactions that landed Lukaku from Inter Milan last year.
Tuchel admitted it was tough to envision Chelsea without Abramovich when asked about the deal.
“I can only think about Chelsea with Roman Abramovich. So it’s very hard for me. It hasn’t sunk in yet that this is going to stop. It’s a massive change of course,” Tuchel said.
“I don’t know as much as maybe you think. I’m not a CEO or member of the board. So, I’m very sure the club will speak to us and the players.
“I’m not so much worried because I still feel privileged and in a good place. I’m never afraid of change and will focus on what I can influence, and this is staff and team.”
Chelsea needed this win after their heartbreaking penalty shootout loss to Liverpool in the League Cup final at Wembley on Sunday.
At little Kenilworth Road, though, it was Abramovich’s seismic decision to sell up that drew the most attention.
When word of Abramovich’s probable sale reached Chelsea’s fans before kick-off, they sang his name.
Luton supporters reacted angrily to chants of ‘we’ve won it all,’ singing ‘you bought it all,’ in reaction to Abramovich’s millions spent on star recruits.
Chelsea conceded an early goal as Reece Burke rose above Malang Sarr and glanced his header past Kepa Arrizabalaga in the second minute.
Saul Niguez scored for the first time since joining Tuchel’s club on loan from Atletico Madrid in August in the 27th minute.
After Timo Werner launched an effective counter-attack, Saul drilled a composed finish from the edge of the area.
In the 40th minute, Sarr failed to play offside, allowing Harry Cornick to race onto Carlos Mendes Gomes’ pass and score Luton’s second goal.
Werner controlled Ruben Loftus-fantastic Cheek’s high pass and tapped home for his first goal in eight appearances for Chelsea in the 68th minute.
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