Cesar Azpilicueta admitted the club had not had ‘a normal day’ but urged his side to face the matter at hand on the pitch of defeating Norwich.
The Blues were rocked by the news the club’s Russian owner Roman Abramovich was added to the UK’s sanctions list following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The club’s shirt sponsor, the telecom brand, Three, has also suspended its £40million deal with the Blues, throwing Chelsea’s future – including the club’s extensive sponsorship arrangements – into doubt.
The club were banned from selling match tickets and were even forced to close their club shop.
In addition Abramovich will not be allowed to sell the west London side and measures have been put in place to ensure he cannot profit from its activities.
A special licence allows the European champions to continue playing all of their fixtures due to its status as a ‘significant cultural asset’, but only ‘existing ticket holders’ – including fans with season tickets – will be allowed to attend games. Staff and players can still be paid.
And amid all the off-field issues, Thomas Tuchel’s squad have been putting the finishing touches to their preparations ahead of facing Norwich at Carrow Road on Thursday night.
And speaking to Premier League Productions, Azpilicueta insisted his team – sat third in the Premier League – are only focused on the match.
Cesar Azpilicueta admitted the club had not had ‘a normal day’ but urged his side to focus on beating Norwich
Blues owner Roman Abramovich is among the oligarchs to be hit with asset freeze and travel bans under new UK sanctions
‘I have to admit that this has not been a normal day,’ he said. ‘We cannot control this matter.
‘We come here and we’re focused on the game and we know we have to fight for the three points.
‘We have to forget about the stuff that is happening outside.’
The Chelsea Supporter’s Trust has had to urge all Chelsea fans not to sing the name of owner Abramovich during moments of solidarity with Ukraine, which will take place at Carrow Road.
The club was heavily criticised after its supporters chanted Abramovich’s name during the minute’s applause for Ukraine ahead of the Premier League match against Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday.
Chelsea’s shirt sponsor, the telecom’s brand, Three, has suspended its deal with the club
‘Sanctions placed on Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich by the UK government casts a shadow over Chelsea’s many commercial agreements,’ said Conrad Wiacek, Head of Sport Analysis at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
Last year, Chelsea made £154m from commercial deals despite the coronavirus pandemic. In 2019, before Covid struck, the club earned £200m in sponsorship.
Other leading brands, including, Nike, which has a £55m kit deal with Chelsea, as well as car manufacturer, Hyundai, and the watchmaker, Hublot, which have deals worth over £15M combined, will also have to weigh up their next move.
Abramovich’s sanction was announced on Thursday morning. Speaking about the decision, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: ‘There can be no safe havens for those who have supported Putin’s vicious assault on Ukraine.
Thomas Tuchel’s men will try to claim another three points amid the off-field problems
‘Today’s sanctions are the latest step in the UK’s unwavering support for the Ukrainian people. We will be ruthless in pursuing those who enable the killing of civilians, destruction of hospitals and illegal occupation of sovereign allies.’
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss added: ‘Today’s sanctions show once again that oligarchs and kleptocrats have no place in our economy or society. With their close links to Putin they are complicit in his aggression.
‘The blood of the Ukrainian people is on their hands. They should hang their heads in shame.
‘Our support for Ukraine will not waver. We will not stop in this mission to ramp up the pressure on the Putin regime and choke off funds to his brutal war machine.’
Abramovich’s proposed £3billion sale of the club, confirmed last week, is also on hold following the sanctions.
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