Chelsea might not be able to pay their staff

Chelsea’s future remains deeply uncertain as technical director Petr Cech admitted he did not know if the club would be able to pay staff.

Chelsea can’t pay to remove phone company 3’s logo from Kai Havertz’s shirt

Chelsea’s precarious future remains deeply uncertain as technical director Petr Cech admitted he did not know if the club would be able to pay the wages of staff.

Chelsea are hopeful the government will this week grant a second licence to allow the club to be sold, as well as approving amendments that mean they can operate as normal, after Russian owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned. The club cannot sell tickets or merchandise and are prevented from signing players and offering new contracts.

Thomas Tuchel’s team, who beat Newcastle United 1-0 at the weekend, are due to travel to France on Tuesday for the second leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie with Lille on Wednesday, but their arrangements have been put in doubt by the terms of the licence, which placed an initial $35,000 cap on travel for away games.

“I have to admit we go day by day,” Cech said. “We don’t have this in our hands. The conversations are going on (so) that we can actually operate in a way to finish the season.

“We hope the situation will be clearer soon. We hope that the people working for the club will be able to get their salaries and to live their lives and work. But this is a difficult question for me. I don’t have the answers.

“We have the board and people in the club talking to the government over how we can operate and carry on. We try to do the best we can day by day and prepare for every game.”

Chelsea are set to fly to France but there was some doubt over whether the cost of the flights would exceed their spending limit. Tuchel, who vowed to remain at Chelsea until at least the end of the season, insisted he would find a way to be in Lille.

“My last information is we are getting a plane,” the Chelsea head coach said. “We can go by plane and come back by plane. If not, we’ll go by train. If not, we’ll go by bus. If not, I’ll drive a seven-seater. Honestly I will do it. You can mark my words, I will do (whatever is necessary) to arrive there.

“Of course there are some negotiations going on and talks, but it doesn’t influence me.”

The mobile phone company Three suspended its sponsorship of Chelsea last week, but its logo remained on the jerseys worn by players and on advertising boards at Stamford Bridge during the win over Newcastle.

Chelsea explored various options to remove the logo, such as covering it up, but are unable to pay for changes to their shirts because of the sanctions.

The Times