Kai Havertz scored a late goal for Chelsea to make them feel better about Roman Abramovich’s punishments.
It was the first time the Blues had played at home since the sanctions. Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea, has been punished by the British government because Russia invaded Ukraine.
This has put the future of the European champions in question. To stay alive, Chelsea needs a new owner as soon as possible.
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Their monthly wage bill is estimated to be around GBP 28 million ($36.5), and the sanctions have drastically cut their revenue streams.
As a result of not signing or renewing contracts, Chelsea sponsors Three and Hyundai have cut ties with the club this week.
But Thomas Tuchel’s team has kept their heads amid all the chaos.
Havertz scored late on to make it four wins in a row since Abramovich said he would sell the club, which didn’t stop the sanctions.
If Chelsea can keep their 2-0 lead against Lille in the Champions League, they’ll be in third place in the Premier League.
They’ll be focusing on that on Wednesday.
This goal of Chelsea’s was fundamental just a week ago, but now it’s not even on their list.
Before the game, Tuchel said that he hadn’t been told how long the club would be around.
Because no one knows what’s going to happen, he said, “No promises.”
Petr Cech, a technical advisor for Chelsea, said that the main thing is to make sure the team can finish the season.
Of course, the government is talking to the club about their license and what they can do to keep going and finish the season as best they can. Cech said that, of course.
When Stamford Bridge was complete, it might be the last time for a while because the club can’t sell any more tickets for future games.
Fans chanted Abramovich’s name during Chelsea’s win at Norwich on Thursday.
There was more muted vocal support for the Russian this time, with his name only being sung a few times in the second half.
Fan: The sight of John Terry in the stands was heartbreaking for people who were afraid of how things would turn out.
During the early days of the Abramovich era, Terry led Chelsea to their first Premier League title in 50 years.
This set in motion a golden era that saw the club win 19 major trophies since 2003.
“It’s not the fans’ war,” read a banner held up by a Chelsea fan. “Leave our club alone.”
There was no sympathy from Newcastle fans, who sang “No noise from the bankrupt boys” before making a joke about their former owner Mike Ashley as they sang “Mike Ashley, he’s coming for you.”
Newcastle, of course, also has a controversial ownership structure. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund bought the club last year, which caused a lot of people to be angry about the country’s poor human rights record.
When Newcastle taunts came from Chelsea fans, they chanted, “Boris Johnson, he’s coming for you.”
What used to be a simple Premier League game has now turned into a study of geopolitics.
Three wanted to have the Three logo removed from their shirts. Chelsea kept wearing them, even though they didn’t.
There was a lot of defiance from the players, even though Newcastle came close to taking the lead.
Dan Burn’s header went just wide, and Miguel Almiron’s fierce volley forced a sprawling save from Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
Havertz won it in the 89th minute by taking a great touch to control Jorginho’s long pass and then slotting past Martin Dubravka to make Tuchel celebrate with a fist-pump.
