Chelsea news LIVE: Club withdraw Middlesbrough request after backlash and Roman Abramovich sanctioned by EU

Emma Hayes spoke about her team’s stoppage time victory over Aston Villa at the weekend which keeps Chelsea in touching dsitance of Arsenal in the race for the WSL title.

The Blues trail their London rivals by five points but have two games in hand and Hayes was overjoyed after the team picked up a vital three points right at the end of the game.

“I even went down the touchline, which I never do!” said the Chelsea boss, “After the week we’ve just had, you compete for championships when you win games like that. Games when you are not at your best, I didn’t think we looked the freshest, you have a hat-full of chances but you don’t convert. The opposition played really, really well too, you’re down to your bare bones and we’re competing for a championship because we’re able to win a game like that.

“Amazing spirit and camaraderie from the players to do that, they gutted that out. I definitely felt a release in my own emotions, I realised that when I nearly lifted Sam Kerr up! I’m always present to perform, but I’m human and this has been hard and we need to count on each other and we did.

“I’ve always said it, I wouldn’t want to be in any other dressing room because we managed to come through really tough times together and all the values and cultures that have been established here over time, they are really kicking into place in the time we need it most and for that reason I’m really proud of everyone.”

Hayes also spoke about the events happening off the pitch which continue to surround the club and dominate the headlines.

“I know our place within our club, I know our importance and I don’t want any of us to be punished or vilified.” she said. “You know at the end of the day, Chelsea Football Club is important to the community and I think as quickly as possible we can resume a sale, so that we can get on with the business of talking about teams and not everything in and around that.

“I’m not worried about us, I think we are a valuable asset to the football club and I know that internally and I don’t expect that to change.”

The mayor of London has said it is important to ensure Chelsea FC is not sold off as part of a “fire sale”.

The west London club’s owner Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned over his links to Vladimir Putin as the UK targeted more oligarchs after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Mayor Sadiq Khan urged the Government to remember there are millions of Chelsea fans who are “completely innocent”.

He told the PA news agency: “I think Chelsea are a great Premier League club, they’re the champions of Europe, the world club champions.

“They were a great club before the current owner and they’ll be a great club after the current owner.

“It’s important to distinguish Chelsea and what’s happening in Ukraine because the reality is for too long Russian oligarchs close to Putin had been using homes in London, businesses in London, to launder money.

“I think it’s right that the Government is now taking sanctions and seizing assets of those Russian oligarchs close to Putin.”

Cesar Azpilicueta could be staying at Chelsea for another year after rumours claimed he would be moving to Barcelona on a free transfer in the summer.

Azpilicueta’s current contract with the Blues ends in June and Barcelona are said to have already put a contract offer on the table for the 33-year-old.

According to Marca the Chelsea captain is Barcelona’s number one defensive target this summer with Azpilicueta keen for a move back to Spain.

However, the Spanish publication claims that Chelsea have already activated a clause in the player’s contract triggering an automatic one-year extension that kicked in after he reached 30 appearances for this season.

Azpilicueta, who missed the win over Newcastle with illness, has now made 33 appearances this season for the Blues. Barca’s desire to land the player remains, but they are not willing to pay a fee with Azpilicueta’s new one-year deal kicking in.

“Azpilicueta wants an amicable solution and he is working on it with the club,” says the report from Marca.

Roman Abramovich’s sanctioning means the club are now working under a strict Government license meaning new player sales and new contract negotiations will not be permitted.

However, since Azpilicueta triggered the clause before those sanctions last week, it is understood the player’s one-year deal will be honoured.

As Chelsea cannot add any new players to their squad at the current time they will likely be unwilling to see anyone leave the club in the foreseeable future.

Thomas Tuchel would be open to Chelsea wearing “a message for peace” on their shirts after sponsor Three suspended their deal with the club following the sanctions against owner Roman Abramovich.

Russian-Israeli billionaire Abramovich’s UK assets - including Chelsea - are now frozen, with the west London club handed a special licence to continue with “football-related activities”.

Telecommunications company Three announced the suspension of its partnership with the Blues on Thursday, including the removal of its branding from club strips.

And Tuchel, speaking after the Blues’ win over Norwich on Thursday evening, said there should always be room for a peaceful message.

“You can always wear a message for peace and it can never be the wrong message,” he said. “Of course maybe the worry is to find enough shirts that we can play with the sanctions! But as long as we have enough shirts and as long as the bus is full of fuel we will arrive and we will be competitive.

“This is what everybody can be sure of and what we demand of ourselves. When it’s a big storm you dig in and you are all together.”

Chelsea were left facing further uncertainty after the club’s credit cards were temporarily suspended in the wake of owner Roman Abramovich being sanctioned by the UK Government.

The club have been granted a license to continue with “football-related activities” but Chelsea are unable to operate as a business and have been banned from selling match tickets or merchandise.

Chelsea have been in discussions with the government in the hope of amending the license and easing the restrictions but were hit on Friday when banks suspended the club’s accounts.

The Independent has been told that it came as companies accessed the operating license handed to the club, but it is understood that Chelsea are hopeful the credit cards will soon be up and running as normal.

Abramovich was sanctioned on Thursday after the government claimed to have proven the 55-year-old’s links to Russian president Vladimir Putin. Russian-Israeli billionaire Abramovich has always denied links to Russia’s current regime, but Putin’s war in Ukraine has led to a major geopolitical shift.

Former Chelsea captain, John Terry, sent the Blues fans a message of thanks on Twitter after Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Newcastle at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.

Kai Havertz scored an 89th minute winner at Stamford Bridge to pick up all three points for Chelsea and speaking after the game, Terry praised the forward saying:

“Great vision, great execution, superb touch and finish. Our supporters were excellent today, I stood there proud to be Chelsea.

“Well done boys and a huge thank you to our fans.”

Former Chelsea defender Mario Melchiot spoke to BBC Radio 5Live about the ongoing situation at the club following the sanctions on owner Roman Abramovich and how the uncertain future for Chelsea could affect the players off the pitch. He said:

Chelsea Supporters’ Trust (CST) have released a statement with their “key asks and expectations” for any sale of the west London football club.

Current owner, Roman Abramovich, put the club up for sale two weeks ago but after being hit with sanctions from the UK government his assets in this country are frozen including Chelsea FC. That means any sale of the club comes under supervision from the government.

This has put the sale into some doubt, but there are still plenty of interested parties. Nick Candy, Robert “Woody” Johnson. Todd Boehly’s consortium, and the Ricketts family are a select few who have expressed their interest in buying Chelsea.

With the situation as uncertain as it is though the CST have released a statement of expectations from Chelsea supporters.

The statement reads: “Key asks and expectations of the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust in any sale of the club:

“The Government must resolve the situation as quickly and transparently as possible.

“The Government must implement the recommendations of the Fan Led Review - including by ensuring Chelsea fans are given a golden share by the new owners of the club.

“The CPO (Chelsea Pitch Owners) must be protected in all circumstances.

“Roman Abramovich’s tenure at Chelsea is almost certain to end, and our focus must be on what comes next and ensuring a sustainable future for the club.”

Thomas Tuchel questioned the Premier League’s ownership tests following Chelsea’s 1-0 victory over Newcastle at Stamford Bridge.

Head coach Tuchel reaffirmed his commitment to the Blues despite the club’s uncertain future due to owner Roman Abramovich’s Government sanctions.

Abramovich has had all his UK assets frozen barring Chelsea in the wake of Downing Street claiming to have proven the Russian-Israeli billionaire’s links to Vladimir Putin.

Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine, coupled with Saudi Arabia carrying out 81 public executions on Saturday, made for a tense backdrop to the Blues’ last-gasp win over the Saudi-bankrolled Magpies.

The Premier League insisted Newcastle’s owners, the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, proved suitable separation from the Saudi state before its takeover, despite crown prince Mohammed bin Salman chairing the PIF.

Newcastle’s nine-match unbeaten run in the Premier League came to an end, with the Magpies also failing to score for the first time in 10 matches since losing to Man City in December (0-4).

Only versus Spurs (33) have Chelsea won more Premier League games than they have against Newcastle (29), with the Blues winning each of their last nine home league games against the Magpies.

The Magpies have won just one of their last 28 away league games against Chelsea (D7 L20), winning 2-0 in May 2012 under Alan Pardew.

Thomas Tuchel’s side are unbeaten in their last 35 Premier League home games played in March (W30 D5), since a 4-2 loss against Sunderland in 2001. Only in August (38 between 1993 and 2015) have the Blues had a longer unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge in a specific month.