Football News: Chelsea’s sorrow over Roman Abramovich’s sanctions was lifted by Kai Havertz’s late goal, which sealed a 1-0 win against Newcastle in the Blues’ first home game since the devastating limitations were imposed. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the British government, and the fallout has cast doubt on the club’s future. Chelsea’s monthly wage cost is believed to be approximately GBP 28 million ($36.5), since the club’s revenue streams have been drastically cut as a result of the fines, there are fears that the club’s existence may be jeopardised unless a new owner is found quickly.
Chelsea’s sponsors Three and Hyundai have suspended their relationships with the club this week due to the club’s inability to sign players or renew contracts.
But Thomas Tuchel’s team has kept it’s cool amid the chaos, and Havertz scored late to make it four wins in a row since Abramovich revealed his intention to sell the club in an attempt to halt the sanctions.
Chelsea is still in the third position in the Premier League, and their focus now shifts to defending a 2-0 advantage against Lille in the Champions League last 16-second leg on Wednesday.
Chelsea’s main goal a week ago was to retain their Champions League title, but that is currently the least of their worries.
Tuchel said before the game that he had received no assurances about the club’s future.
“No assurances and I think anybody who gives an assurance should not be trusted because no one knows, this is my opinion, what’s coming,” he said.
Petr Cech, Chelsea’s technical advisor, admitted that the club’s major priority is to make it to the end of the season.
“Of course, we have representatives from the club speaking with the government about the licence and what we can do to continue and finish the season as best we can,” Cech added.
Stamford Bridge was sold out for the first time in a long time, as the club is unable to sell any additional tickets for future fixtures.
After chanting Abramovich’s name during Chelsea’s triumph against Norwich on Thursday, there was more muted verbal support this time, with his name being sung briefly in the second half.
Fans worried about the future were moved by the sight of Chelsea’s former captain John Terry in the stands.
In the early days of the Abramovich era, Terry led Chelsea to their first Premier League victory in 50 years, kicking off a golden age that has yielded 19 major trophies since 2003.
One fan, brandishing a banner that said “It’s not the fans’ war,” summed up the feeling that Chelsea had been unfairly targeted by the sanctions, while a graffiti message outside the stadium stated, “leave our club alone.”
Newcastle fans were less sympathetic, yelling “no noise from the bankrupt boys” before singing “Mike Ashley, he’s coming for you,” a tongue-in-cheek reference to their despised former owner.
Newcastle, too, has a contentious ownership structure, with the club being purchased by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund last year, despite the considerable condemnation of the country’s questionable human rights record.
Chelsea fans, well aware of these concerns, chanted “Boris Johnson, he’s coming for you” in response to Newcastle’s taunting.
What was once an ordinary Premier League encounter had become a geopolitical case study.
Despite the fact that the mobile phone firm had requested that the shirts be removed, Chelsea continued to wear them.
Although Newcastle almost took the lead when Dan Burn’s header went well wide before Miguel Almiron’s ferocious drive forced a leaping save from Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, the players showed defiance.
For football score, football news live, football match, football result, football team, football live update, football daily news and other football news follow livematchupdatesnews.com.
