Sports

Chelsea’s Future Uncertain, Tuchel Admits

Published

4 years ago

March 11, 2022

Thomas Tuchel admits Chelsea face an uncertain future as doubts swirl over how the European champions will even pay their wage bill after Russian owner Roman Abramovich was hit with UK sanctions.

The Premier League club put a brave face on events as they returned to action on Thursday, just hours after the billionaire’s assets were frozen.

Chelsea fans chanted Abramovich’s name during their 3-1 victory at relegation-threatened Norwich as they tightened their grip on third spot in the English top-flight.

England midfielder Mason Mount posted a picture of himself on Instagram with the message “For the fans!” while fellow goalscorer Trevoh Chalobah dedicated the win to “every Chelsea fan across the globe!”

But the upbeat words hide deep unease over what will unfold in the coming weeks.

Abramovich was one of seven oligarchs targeted by Britain on Thursday in action taken in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, all of whom were described as part of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle.

The 55-year-old had already announced his intention to sell Chelsea, with a host of potential buyers declaring their interest in a club that has won 19 major trophies since he bought the side in 2003.

The government is still open to a sale but would have to approve a new licence, on the proviso no profit would go to the Russian, who has bankrolled the club to the tune of around £1.5 billion ($2 billion).

In the meantime, the London club will have to operate under stringent new rules, which prohibit the sale of tickets and effectively place them under a transfer ban.

Senior defenders Cesar Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger, and Andreas Christensen are all out of contract this summer, with their futures up in the air as the club cannot agree new contracts.

Tuchel said he was happy still to be at Stamford Bridge but admitted the future was shrouded in uncertainty as he tries to focus on events on the pitch.

“The situation will not go away — maybe tomorrow it will change again, but it will not go away,” said the German, who arrived at Chelsea in January last year.

“I am still happy to be here and still happy to be manager of a strong team. I know there is a lot of noise around.”

Chelsea’s women’s team was also in action on Thursday, winning 4-1 at West Ham despite the distractions.

“There’s no denying it’s a difficult day, but I think it’s important that we give it time,” manager Emma Hayes told Sky Sports News.

– Sponsor uncertainty –

The club are already feeling the impact of the sanctions, with shirt sponsor Three suspending its deal and reports suggesting global sportswear giant Nike are considering walking away from their huge kit agreement.

But the club’s official training wear partner Trivago said Friday that it was sticking with Chelsea despite the “challenging” situation.

“We are looking forward to a transition of ownership as soon as possible and want to support the club in this process,” it said in a statement.

“We will provide any update to our business relationship if and when appropriate.”

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire, who said Chelsea’s wage bill was around £28 million a month, claimed in the short-term it would be business as usual but there could be problems further down the line.

“The concern might be what happens if Chelsea’s cash reserves are insufficient to pay their wage bill — but presumably the government and Premier League, who have been working on this, will have been looking at it to try to minimise disruption on a club level,” Maguire said.

Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin told the BBC World Football Podcast that the club were in “uncharted water”.

“It’s minute-to-minute and I can promise you now, that club doesn’t know what is going to happen today, tomorrow or in a couple of days’ time,” he said.

“Once you start digging down into what this could do — yes, they can play their games but will they even be able?

“It’s not hyperbole to say the future of the club is in serious danger.”

AFP

Sports

WCQ: Haaland Scores Hat-trick As Norway Thrash Israel 5-0

Published

8 hours ago

October 11, 2025

Editor

Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick to pass 50 international goals in record time as Norway cruised to a 5-0 thrashing of Israel on Saturday, edging closer to qualifying for a first World Cup since 1998.

Norway, who have not played at a major tournament since Euro 2000, now lead Group I with nine points more than second-placed Italy, who have two games in hand and play in Estonia later Saturday.

The Scandinavians will secure a place at next year’s finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico with a win over the Estonians on Tuesday if Italy fails to defeat either Estonia or Israel in their next two matches.

Manchester City striker Haaland is the leading scorer in European qualifying with 12 goals so far.

He also became the fastest player in men’s international football to reach 50 goals for his country and now boasts 51 goals for Norway in just 46 games.

England captain Harry Kane held the previous record, bringing up his half-century in 71 appearances.

Ahead of kick-off, hundreds of people attended a pro-Palestinian demonstration, chanting “Free Palestine” to protest against Israel’s “genocide” in Gaza, AFP journalists reported.

The head of the Norwegian football association, Lise Klaveness, recently said she was pushing “for Israel to be sanctioned”.

In early action, Haaland surprised the Norwegian fans in the Ullevaal Stadium when his penalty was saved by Israeli goalkeeper Daniel Peretz.

The spot-kick was ordered to be retaken for encroachment inside the area and Haaland struck his second effort in the opposite direction, only for it to be parried away again by Peretz.

But Norway did forge ahead in the 18th minute through an Anan Khalaili own goal, before Haaland raced clear to score in a ninth successive international appearance.

The hosts grabbed their third just seconds after Israel kicked off again in the 28th minute, as Peretz kicked the ball off Idan Nachmias, who was under pressure from Haaland, and into the net for another own goal.

Nachmias also had to go off injured after colliding with the post.

Haaland added his second in the 63rd minute, powering home a header from Antonio Nusa’s cross, before nodding in to complete his hat-trick with 18 minutes left.

Elsewhere, Hungary beat Armenia 2-0 in Group F, meaning Portugal could qualify with back-to-back wins over the Republic of Ireland, who they were facing at home later Saturday, and then Hungary on Tuesday.

Sports

Just Like Football Clubs, Let’s Sign Foreign President To Fix Nigeria – Actor Okele [VIDEO]

Published

2 days ago

October 10, 2025

Editor

Popular Nigerian actor, Tunde Usman, professionally known as Okele, has proposed ‘signing’ of foreign Presidents to fix the country.

The actor made the suggestion while reacting to Nigeria’s current economic hardship.

Reacting to the increase in price of cooking gas across the nation, Okele in a now trending video shared on his Instagram page proposed a football method of removing a non performing coaches to address Nigeria’s challenges.

Speaking in Yoruba, the actor argued that adoption of the football method might solve constant disappointment with elected leaders.

“Greetings to all Nigerians home and abroad. May God help us soften this hardship. I just thought of something about gas, fuel and the way things are expensive in Nigeria.

“If you are a lover of football you would know that every club has a coach, assistant coach, and those that train the keepers. So, instead of campaigning for different political parties with some looting our money, why can’t Nigeria look around the world and sign any ex-president that has proven himself in another country to fix Nigeria.

“Even many football nations signed coaches from different countries. Maybe we should adopt the signing of the President method to end different political parties campaigns. Let’s come together and sign our President the same way we signed the coach and we can sack the non performing President and sign a new one.”

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A post shared by Tunde Usman-aka Okele (@okele_2)

Sports

FIFA U-20 World Cup: Argentina Crush Nigeria 4-0

Published

3 days ago

October 8, 2025

Editor

Argentina produced a commanding performance to beat Nigeria’s Flying Eagles 4-0 in a knockout-stage match at the U-20 World Cup on Wednesday.

Alejo Sarco opened the scoring after just two minutes, tapping in from a Dylan Gorosito cross.

Maher Carrizo doubled the lead with a superb left-footed free-kick on 23 minutes and added a second shortly after the interval (53′) to make it 3-0.

Mateo Silvetti capped the scoring with a low finish on 66 minutes, finishing off a move created by Gianluca Prestianni.

The Flying Eagles huffed and puffed but rarely threatened the match rhythm. Daniel Daga saw a close-range effort saved before half-time, and Kparobo Arierhi rattled the post in stoppage time of the first half.

But none of their attacks could find a way past Argentina’s goalkeeper Santino Barbi or break down a disciplined defensive unit.

Meanwhile, Ebenezer Harcourt produced several important saves to limit the damage early on.

Tactical changes came early in the second half as Nigeria’s coach shuffled his pack, introducing Auwal Ibrahim, Abduljelil Kamaldeen, Emmanuel Ekele and Charles Agada in a bid to spark a revival, but Argentina’s control of the midfield and clinical finishing rendered the substitutions ineffective.

Details later…