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It has been almost four years since Roman Abramovich left Chelsea and he enabled their FIFA Club World Cup victory that is still paying dividends<\/h2>\n <\/p>\n\n
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\nRoman Abramovich left Chelsea in 2022(Image: Getty)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/button><\/p>\n
Roman Abramovich left Chelsea in 2022 with the club’s current owners sealing a deal exactly four years ago. But one of his legacies \u2013 helping his team qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup they went on to win \u2013 could continue to benefit their next manager.<\/p>\n
The Blues are weathering a crisis. Having started the season under Enzo Maresca, they soon opted to go in a different direction, hiring Liam Rosenior in January. While his spell in charge began impressively, a run of five defeats without scoring ended his tenure last month.<\/p>\n
Defeat to Nottingham Forest, with Calum McFarlane acting as interim head coach, was their latest setback. Now the hunt is on for who’ll succeed Rosenior as Chelsea look to climb back up their Champions League-winning heights of 2021. This title, which was sealed with Abramovich still involved, meant the team qualified for last summer’s Club World Cup.<\/p>\n
There, despite not being heavily favoured, Maresca’s Chelsea defeated Paris Saint-Germain in the final and earned \u00a385million in the process. This windfall could be utilised by whoever takes over from Rosenior at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n
FOLLOW OUR CHELSEA FB PAGE! Latest Blues news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page<\/strong><\/p>\nWith Abramovich still owning the club, Chelsea defeated Manchester City 1-0 in 2021 to win the Champions League. The Russian businessman soon left after nearly two decades of involvement, having bought them in 2003.<\/p>\n
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\nThe Blues were victorious in the US last year(Image: Getty)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/button><\/div>\n
Abramovich’s assets were frozen and he was sanctioned by the UK Government because of alleged links to Vladimir Putin and Russia, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. A consortium headed by Todd Boehly sealed a deal to take over the club for \u00a34.25billion on May 7, 2022.<\/p>\n
Chelsea qualified for the Club World Cup as Champions League winners. In the United States, their earnings were divided into a guaranteed participation fee and performance-based bonuses earned during the tournament.<\/p>\n
Their group stage victories earned them \u00a33m and they received \u00a35.6m for reaching the round of 16. Advancing to the quarter-finals added \u00a39.7m, and winning the semi-finals brought in \u00a315.6m. Their win against PSG meant \u00a385m was their total prize money.<\/p>\n
Last summer, with Abramovich long gone and Maresca at the helm, the club spent nearly \u00a3200m on recruits, including Joao Pedro and Liam Delap. But it is still conceivable that some of the \u00a385m Club World Cup sum remains unspent.<\/p>\n
Abramovich’s legacy could be handed to whoever takes the reins in west London next and The Independent reports that Barcelona icon Xavi Hernandez is under consideration. The Spaniard has been without a job since he left the Catalan club in 2024 and five years prior he made an admission about potential Premier League management.<\/p>\n
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\nXavi has been linked with the Chelsea job(Image: Getty)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/button><\/div>\n
Just as he was named as Barcelona boss, Xavi was asked whether he’d want to ever manage in the English top flight. After describing his love for his Spanish employers, he said: “Who doesn’t like the Premier League?<\/p>\n
“The football atmosphere, the packed stadiums and the people who play in the Premier League say it’s extraordinary. Obviously, if I had to choose, I would choose a big team.<\/p>\n
“(Manchester) City or United, Chelsea, Arsenal or Tottenham. Also, (Jurgen) Klopp and (Mauricio) Pochettino and Unai Emery, many people who have gone there are doing an extraordinary job.”<\/p>\n
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Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package<\/p>\n
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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.<\/p>\n
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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