Chelsea

Billionaire investors are circling as American merchant bank Raine Group sell one of world football's biggest clubs on behalf of sanctioned oligarch Roman ...

But they’re a huge brand in the biggest league in the world – what’s not to like? “When we’re interested in a club we look at how talent is managed and Chelsea have incredible management of that.” “There’s a need for capital, a need to do work on the stadium. The academy and its proven success is a major asset in Chelsea’s favour. The Ricketts family, owners of the Chicago Cubs baseball team have joined forces with Ken Griffin, chief executive of the Citadel Asset Management hedge fund, to place a bid by Friday. “A club like Chelsea ticks a lot of boxes.

Thomas Tuchel wants Chelsea to be the side everyone wants to avoid in the Champions League quarter-final draw after the holders beat Lille at a lively Stade ...

That has brought with it spending caps, though the club's players and staff were able to fly to Lille for the game because those arrangements were already made prior to the sanctions. Abramovich, who is understood to have strong ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin, has had his assets frozen by the UK government and Chelsea have had to obtain a special licence to continue operating. "It's a big step to do it again and again - and that is why we fight for top-four places in maybe the toughest league in the world and we fight now again in the top eight teams [in Europe].

Both the UK government and the European Union have placed strict conditions on what the club can and can't do as Abramovich tries to find a buyer.

Chelsea fans don't all agree on what's happening at their club but there is certainly something of a consensus that they shouldn't be the only ones being punished. Season ticket holder Bob Woods from Mitcham went to his first game in 1953. His brother George said: "Chelsea fans are not the victims here, the Ukrainian people are.

Chelsea News: the former player and manager of the club is looking to join forces with fellow supporter Candy as they aim to beat Tood Boehly, The Ricketts ...

A spokesperson for Candy's offer confirmed the appointment of Tifosy. The statement read: "The company is co-founded by former professional footballer and truly adored Chelsea player, Gianluca Vialli. Their work on the data and business analysis so far has been outstanding." Vialli was a very popular figure at Stamford Bridge during his playing days and he could now play a 'kingmaker' role in a possible takeover. Chelsea icon and former Blues manager Gianluca Vialli has admitted that he is 'proud' to support Nick Candy in his bid to complete a takeover of the club amid competition from the likes of Todd Boehly's consortium, The Ricketts Family and the Saudi Media group.

Bidders for Chelsea could find out as soon as this weekend if they have been shortlisted in the race to buy out Roman Abramovich.

We love our club and will always put the fans first.” “[Martin] has the vision, acumen and financial backing to ensure our club’s future success, keeping Chelsea at the top of European football and challenging for trophies,” said Coe. “But most importantly, like me, he is a lifelong Chelsea supporter and Shed End season-ticket holder. Raine and the UK Government favour a sale to buyer who has the best chance of ensuring the stability of Chelsea, which is why experience in the industry is seen as crucial. But the Ricketts family and Boehly have already carried out much of the due diligence required when previously looking to buy out Abramovich. Both believe that gives them an added advantage, with the Government and the Premier League wanting a quick sale following the sanctions imposed on Chelsea’s Russian owner. While Raine aim to generate as much money as possible from the sale — with bids expected in the region of £2bn-£2.5bn — it is not a case of the highest offer automatically winning. Standard Sport understands a previous experience in sports team ownership will be given preference, which gives an advantage to a trio of Americans: the Ricketts family, Todd Boehly and Woody Johnson. They all own major sports franchises in the States, while the Ricketts family and Boehly have both attempted to buy Chelsea in the past.

Chelsea booked our place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 2-1 away win over Lille in the second leg of our last-16 tie, completing a 4-1 ...

The home crowd were making a fierce noise to try and pressure the Blues into a mistake - even the stadium announcer was joining in the singing over the PA system - but it didn’t work.Deep into first-half injury time, our long spell of possession finally opened up time and space for Jorginho just outside the box and he took full advantage, sliding a brilliant outside-of-the-boot through-ball into the path of Pulisic. Just like in the first leg, the forward showed great composure when he got his chance, placing a finish right into the bottom corner to pull us level on the night and restore our two-goal aggregate advantage.Despite that goal, Tuchel decided he needed to make a change during the break, with Mason Mount coming on to replace Kovacic. That saw us switching to a front three, with Mount and Pulisic flanking Havertz.We were soon given a warning that this tie was far from over, when Jonathan Bamba managed to create space for the cross up against Alonso and Mendy, diving at full stretch, was relieved to see Yilmaz’s header fade just wide of the top corner.We were starting to look more comfortable on the ball and Rudiger wasn’t too far away from scoring an excellent goal when an Alonso free-kick rebounded in his direction on the edge of the box after striking the wall. In fact, it was Lille goalkeeper Jardim who needed to make a good late save to deny Alonso after he had been slid through by Kante.By the final whistle many of the Lille players looked exhausted and slumped to the pitch as the referee blew for full time, while the Blues celebrated our progress to the quarter-finals in front of the travelling fans.We are away in knock-out action again at the weekend, this time in the FA Cup quarter-finals as we travel to Middlesbrough on Saturday 19 March, with kick-off at 5.15pm. After that the Premier League takes a pause for this month's international break, with the Blues returning to action against Brentford on Saturday 2 April. It was Christian Pulisic who found the net, just as he did in the first leg, placing a calm finish into the bottom corner after being slid through by Jorginho's brilliant through-ball.We had scares in the second half, most notably when Xeka headed against the post for Lille, but it was Blues captain Cesar Azpilicueta who scored the all-important next goal. A minute after coming on he was booked for a foul on Jonathan David and, when the resulting cross from a free-kick pinballed around our penalty area, there were loud shouts for a handball from the Lille players.After a VAR check the referee watched the replay on the sideline and awarded a penalty against Jorginho. It was a tight call as the ball certainly struck the midfielder’s elbow and his arm was moving down towards the ball, but it bounced back at him from close range and didn’t appear deliberate as he was off balance.None of that bothered Yilmaz, though, as he smashed a powerful spot kick into the top corner, giving Mendy no chance despite the keeper going the right way.As we approached the end of the first half, the Lille players finally started to drop their relentless pace and we were able to control the closing stages. A powerful Burak Yilmaz shot needed a brave block by Thiago Silva after an interception by Benjamin Andre in a dangerous area and there was further danger from a Yilmaz free-kick, which thankfully flew beyond the crossbar with Mendy watching it all the way.It took nearly 20 minutes of an evenly matched first half for Chelsea to start stamping some authority on the game, using our back three and the additional man in midfield to keep possession and try to control the tempo, but the most promising opportunities for both sides came on the counter-attack.In one brilliant burst through the centre of the pitch, Kovacic somehow weaved his way through three players in a tight space with some quick feet, before sliding the ball left to Pulisic, but the American couldn’t quite get the weight right on his pass towards Havertz in the six-yard box and Lille goalkeeper Jardim was able to gather.Behind, but not for longThere was a set-back for the Blues, tough. Chelsea booked our place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 2-1 away win over Lille in the second leg of our last-16 tie, completing a 4-1 victory on aggregate.

Thomas Tuchel was told that Chelsea fans will be barred from their Champions League quarter-final at Stamford Bridge.

Can we speak about it when it is confirmed?" Several interested parties are in the process of submitting bids, but the sale of Chelsea will only be permitted if the UK government can be convinced that Abramovich will not receive any of the proceeds. I was in such a good mood.

New York merchant bank the Raine Group will whittle down a shortlist of preferred bidders following Friday's deadline to make an offer. The fast pace of the ...

And we fight now in the last eight teams of the Champions League again. So let’s see what happens.” “I want us to be the team that nobody wants to play,” said Tuchel. “That is the role we see ourselves in, in this round of the last eight.

Chelsea could miss out on signing their top summer transfer target Jules Kounde if the club is not sold quickly, according to reports.

There is great upheaval at Chelsea, with news of bids leaking during their game against Lille, but few will want to face them.

After a Champions League midweek in which three of the four pre-match favourites were beaten, Chelsea are happy to be the exceptions. If this was to be Lille’s first Champions League knockout home game in 15 years and is to be their last for goodness knows how long, those in the Stade Pierre Mauroy were determined to make the best of it. That is no criticism – he is simply a different type of full-back to James. But it can make Chelsea a little sluggish in possession. Chelsea are in a bizarre position of hoping to draw a Premier League team in the quarter-finals for ease of travel. Every day at Chelsea brings new controversy, new off-field news that promises to shape the immediate future of this club on it. STADE PIERRE MAUROY — It says everything about Chelsea’s current state that somewhere between the goal that reinvigorated this tie and the one that ultimately settled it as a contest, former striker Gianluca Vialli announced that he had been in regular contact with one potential bidder and Lord Sebastian Coe was rumoured to be working behind the scenes on another.

Chelsea have been handed a boost for their FA Cup quarter-final with the government reportedly now raising the Blues' travel budget for the Middlesbro.

And now Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government is understood to have handed Chelsea a travel budget lift for their journey to the Riverside Stadium. The Blues were initially hit with a £20,000 travel budget cap for each match under the new licence, but now, according to PA, the government is understood to have lifted that limit – though initially only for Saturday’s FA Cup trip to Middlesbrough, which is live on talkSPORT Chelsea have been handed a boost for their FA Cup quarter-final with the government reportedly now raising the Blues’ travel budget for the Middlesbrough trip.

Lille 1-2 (agg. 1-4) Chelsea: The Blues fought back after Burak Yilmaz's penalty to advance despite the club's off-field woes.

Jorginho’s handball gifted Lille the chance to take the lead, a penalty awarded after a VAR check. Chelsea’s build-up to this clash had seen coaches and players having to work out how the Blues would travel across to France. That is 13 matches without a loss in regular time, with the only defeat in that run being the penalty shoot-out loss to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.

Rio Ferdinand has been speaking about how it is "confusing" the way Chelsea have been impacted by the sanctions imposed on owner Roman Abramovich last week.

"That way, people are still working and the club is still functioning, because at the end of the day, it’s just one person they’re looking to make these sanctions for, not the whole workforce." It’s about everyone who is a part of the machine that wants to move forward and everyone’s being punished now. Yes, the government and EU want to put sanctions on Roman Abramovich. "But, then for the whole club to suffer, all the people that work behind the scenes, a football club isn’t about one person.

Thomas Tuchel has distanced himself from Chelsea's request to have Saturday's FA Cup quarterfinal at Middlesbrough played behind closed doors.

"I think the proposal was withdrawn and it was absolutely the right thing to do because that was from our side and hopefully it was not meant like this. It was not the very best idea, to put it like this. And speaking after Wednesday's Champions League round of 16, second-leg win at Lille, Tuchel said: "That was our responsibility, not mine or from the team.

Christian Pulisic and César Azpilicueta helped Chelsea defeat Lille 2-1 as they progressed 4-1 on aggregate in the Champions League despite the continued ...

Timothy Weah was dozing and Azpilicueta charged in, kneeing the ball past Jardim to give Chelsea a fleeting sense of control over their destiny. The Italy international’s pass was beautiful, bent with the outside of his right foot, and Pulisic ran in from the right before clipping an angled shot beyond Léo Jardim. Not that Tuchel was satisfied. With 19 minutes left the tie was out of reach, Mount darting down the left and crossing dangerously. The Lille fans were up for it and they were dreaming of an upset when their side went ahead in the first half, Burak Yilmaz converting a penalty after Jorginho was penalised for a clumsy handball after a VAR review. Chelsea had not played well and in truth the notion of them retaining their European crown might seem fanciful on the basis of this performance. They were level when Jorginho created Christian Pulisic’s excellent equaliser, the midfielder redeeming himself with a gorgeous pass that split Lille wide open, and there was also something comforting about César Azpilicueta marking his 74th appearance in Europe by scoring the winner in the second half.

“The Ricketts Family, owners of the Chicago Cubs, can confirm they will be leading an investment group that will make a formal bid for Chelsea Football Club ...

“The Ricketts Family, owners of the Chicago Cubs, can confirm they will be leading an investment group that will make a formal bid for Chelsea Football Club this Friday,” a spokesman for the Ricketts family said. Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts and his family confirmed their bid for Chelsea will be submitted on Friday, ahead of Raine Group’s deadline for offers for the European and world club champions. The Ricketts family tabled a formal offer for Chelsea in 2018, with the due diligence from that offer likely to boost the Chicago Cubs’ owners current bid to buy the Blues. “As long-time operators of an iconic professional sports team, the Ricketts Family and their partners understand the importance of investing for success on the pitch, while respecting the traditions of the club, the fans and the community. Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts and his family confirmed their bid for Chelsea will be submitted on Friday, ahead of Raine Group’s deadline for offers for the European and world club champions. The Ricketts family tabled a formal offer for Chelsea in 2018, with the due diligence from that offer likely to boost the Chicago Cubs’ owners current bid to buy the Blues.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel was passionate in his celebrations after the Blues beat Lille 2-1 on Wednesday evening following a turbulent week for the club ...

Speaking on Sunday, Tuchel pledged his future to Chelsea, saying that he would definitely be at the club until the end of the season at least. As per @OllieGlanvill on Twitter, the Blues boss passionately celebrated in front of the travelling supporters in France, banging his chest, pumping his fist and raising his hand to his heart as the fans chanted his name. It has been a manic week for the club with the news of owner Roman Abramovich being sanctioned by firstly the UK government and then the EU. It has thrown the future of the Blues into big doubt and Tuchel has been linked with a switch to Manchester United, who are on the lookout for a new permanent manager.

Boehly-Wyss-Goldstein consortium · Ricketts family and Ken Griffin · Team Broughton-Coe · Woody Johnson · Nick Candy and partners · Saudi Media Company · Other ...

Candy this week denied he could team up with Boehly, Wyss and Goldstein, with a spokesperson saying Candy did “not want a lifelong Spurs fan as part of the future ownership of Chelsea”. Candy, a Conservative party donor and property developer, has said he would put a fan on the board and his proposals include plans for an expensive redevelopment of Stamford Bridge. He has enlisted the sports advisory and capital solutions firm Tifosy, co-founded by the former Chelsea player and manager Gianluca Vialli. He has acknowledged the need to team up with other investors and sources have said he has been approached by several and has the funds in place to bid. He is the billionaire heir to the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical fortune. Coe is a former Conservative MP and worked closely with Boris Johnson over the 2012 London Olympics, when the prime minister was the mayor of London. The UK government must approve Chelsea’s sale after imposing sanctions on Abramovich, although the process is being overseen by the US bank Raine. The Ricketts family, who announced on Wednesday they would bid on Friday, first made an attempt to buy Chelsea in 2018. The Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss was first to go public regarding Roman Abramovich’s desire to sell and to declare an interest in buying the club.

Chelsea are not allowed to sell match tickets and will play the home leg of their Champions League quarter-final behind closed doors. There are a long list of ...