Worried Chelsea fans look to brighter future

NORWICH, England : Chelsea supporters are concerned about a future without their billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich, but are confident that their team will continue to be successful on the pitch.

Fans arriving for Thursday's Premier League game at bottom side Norwich City, which third-placed Chelsea won 3-1, were still trying to digest the earlier news that sanctions had been imposed on Abramovich by the British government in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The latest development has put the Russian's attempts to sell the club on hold, but Chelsea supporters at Carrow Road were hopeful that the ownership issue could soon be resolved.

"I think someone in the next two to four weeks will buy the club," said fan Bradley Cozens. "It will just be the Abramovich era done then really. I think we'll still be successful. We just want an owner who will invest in the club like Abramovich did."

The Russian bought the club in 2003 for a reported 140 million pounds ($183 million) and his investment since then resulted in the most successful era in their 117-year history.

Chelsea have won five Premier League titles, five FA Cups and the Champions League twice under Abramovich.

"Obviously what's going on in Ukraine is bad but I feel like why should the fans of Chelsea football club be punished?" said 26-year-old Cozens, a lifelong Blues supporter. "But I've seen Chelsea win everything so I guess I'm alright.

"I went to Abu Dhabi to watch us win the Club World Cup (last month). I've had some great years following Chelsea."

As fans of the world and European champions congregated outside the Norwich stadium before the match on a mild evening singing "We've won it all", one Chelsea follower said she was "a bit emotional" after the