Chelsea cash crisis ‘will not go away’ after Roman Abramovich hit with sanctions

Thomas Tuchel insists he is happy to remain the Chelsea manager but admitted the “situation will not go away” after owner Roman Abramovich was hit with asset-freezing sanctions by the UK Government.

Russian-Israeli billionaire Abramovich put the Blues up for sale on March 2 in the wake of Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine.

On Thursday morning the UK government sanctioned the Chelsea owner amid ties to Vladimir Putin, something Abramovich has always strongly denied, to put any sale of the club in doubt – but a change of ownership could still occur.

The Treasury would approve a new license for the sale on the proviso no profit would go to Abramovich, although the uncertainty is bound to create anxiety at Stamford Bridge.

On the pitch, however, a 3-1 win was secured at Norwich by the men while the women’s side beat West Ham by a 4-1 score on Thursday night.

“The situation will not go away, maybe tomorrow it will change again but it will not go away,” Tuchel said.

“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.

“I don’t have another answer for you. Relief would mean we struggle with all the information and news out there. It is a big change from yesterday to today. At the moment it seems on the football side it is almost protected.

“I feel privileged to have the chance to be involved in games, coaching and football that I love.”

Since Abramovich’s original announcement last week regarding the club he has owned since 2003 being put up for sale, a host of parties have signalled their interest in the Champions League winners and this latest development will not prevent a change of ownership.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman said: “We are now