MY ACCOUNT
Chelsea legend Petr Cech concedes the club are living “day-to-day” amid their ongoing ownership crisis, but remains hopeful they will be able to finish the season at home and abroad.
The Blues are embroiled in a slew of sanctions against owner Roman Abramovich in relation to the Ukraine-Russia crisis by the UK government.
Chelsea are now operating under a special sporting licence, barring them from negotiating new contracts or transfers and preventing them from making ticket or merchandise sales, although reports have suggested that the government may yet permit a swift sale of the club.
Concerns remain over the club’s ability to see out the season and speaking ahead of Chelsea’s clash with Newcastle on Sunday, former goalkeeper Cech – who now works as a technical advisor at the club – said they remain in the dark on their future.
“We have to admit that we go day-by-day,” he told Sky Sports. “We don’t have this in our hands. The conversations are going on [about] whether we can operate, whether we can finish the season, because it is a difficult situation.
“I believe that, for us to be able to carry on the season, would help everybody in the Premier League.”
With financial restrictions likely to be further imposed, Chelsea look almost certain to be unable to keep players such as Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen – who are both in the final months of their contracts – at the end of the campaign.
Questions are also being asked about the future of boss Thomas Tuchel, who led Chelsea to Champions League glory last season.
Cech kept his cards close to his chest regarding the coach’s future, but paid tribute to his success, adding: “Thomas has a contract until 2024. As it stands, we’ve been told that the club contracts will be valued, and in that way, we hope that we will have him as a coach.
“He’s been absolutely brilliant on every level. But that’s another thing. Tomorrow, the situation could change, and my answer with it.”
Asked on how to pitch the club to prospective new owners, Cech offered further praise for the team’s mentality in over a century as a professional team, stating: “Chelsea has 117 years of history and a lot of success.
“That success has come down to hard work and dedication of the people who have been working ever since the club was founded. It has had its own journey, its own success.
“This is not about money – it is about the hard work, the dedication of the players who sweat every day to make the club successful. We’ve done it all inside the rules, and all the Financial Fair Play [operations] that were in our power, and I believe that shouldn’t be forgotten.”
