Russian Roman Abramovich, owner of Chelsea since 2003, announced that he had entrusted the management of the club to the administrators of his charitable foundation, according to a press release published on Saturday.
This announcement comes as the noose tightens on the oligarchs and Russian interests since the invasion of Ukraine.
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“
I have always made decisions with the club's best interests at heart.
I remain attached to these values.
That is why today I entrust the trustees of the Chelsea Charitable Foundation with the management of Chelsea FC.
I think they are currently in the best position to look after the interests of the club, the players, the staff and the supporters
,” explains Roman Abramovitch.
“
During the almost 20 years that I have owned Chelsea, I have always seen my role as that of a goalkeeper for the club, whose task is to ensure that we perform as well as possible today and that we build for the future, while playing a positive role in our communities
”, also underlines the Russian billionaire, who does not specify whether his withdrawal is temporary or permanent.
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While the British authorities have announced several sanctions targeting Russian interests, Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran for her part designated Abramovich on Wednesday as one
of Vladimir Putin 's 35 "
key men " who should be sanctioned.
Tuchel admits that the shareholder's situation disturbed the team
Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel admitted on Friday that the club owner's situation "
disturbed
" his team.
"
We can't pretend it's not a problem.
The situation in general, for me and my staff, for everyone at Cobham (the club's training center, editor's note), for the players, is horrible
, ”Tuchel told journalists without pronouncing the name of Abramovich.
“
Nobody expected that.
It's very unreal, as I said, it disturbs our minds, it darkens our excitement as we approach the final
"of the League Cup, which will oppose his club to Liverpool on Sunday, he had added.