Chelsea

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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That angry feeling from Chelsea fans looked like it was going to rear its head again when they were 1-0 down at Fulham with 83 minutes on the clock.

Two late goals and the smiles were back, along with an organised charm offensive after the game from players and staff.

‌The negative mood has been bubbling under the surface for a while - maybe ever since Clearlake Capital acquired the club as an investment vehicle.

However, staggering sums have been spent on players, there is still a decent chance of Champions League football next season and also the likelihood of a European trophy lift in a month's time.

So, why the fan frustration?

‌There are a number of reasons.

Right at the top is being told it was their fault for not making a good enough atmosphere at home games. This is a lot to swallow, especially when many of the loudest fans have been priced out of attending and others feel they are unwanted in their own home, with wealthier supporters being more sought after.

Then add in the many insipid performances since December, often delivered in a dull, predictable fashion.

Enzo Maresca's methods can look a bit dated, given the game's successful clubs have pivoted towards a more cavalier style. If your club has spent billions and had to sell off some of the assets to afford that spending, the fans expect style and swagger as well as real success.

‌It may all come down to Conference League success to save the season, even if top five is the real aim of the club and, crucially, the heartfelt desire of the club's financiers and accountants.

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Enzo Maresca continues to work under the microscope after Chelsea had to come from behind to rescue three points against Fulham on Sunday.

You know your club best, so give us a peek behind the curtain and tell us the one thing no-one is talking about at Chelsea but really should be.

Let us know here

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will discuss the sale of the club in a new book set to be released this summer after giving his first interview in four years.

Abramovich, who remains sanctioned by the UK Government due to alleged links to Russian president Vladimir Putin, has conducted a two-part interview about the £2.5 billion sale of Chelsea in 2022 to American consortium Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, a deal which took place after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The interviews took place in Abu Dhabi in January and in Istanbul a year prior and are said to include Abramovich's account of his initial takeover of Chelsea FC in 2004: the sanctions, his efforts in the previous peace process and his suspected poisoning in March 2022.

Before these, Abramovich's most recent interview was to Forbes in March 2021 and, aside from a short statement in January that year about Frank Lampard's sacking and statements about Chelsea's 'Say No to Anti-Semitism' campaign, he had not given an official interview since 2006.

The book named "Sanctioned: The Inside Story of the Sale of Chelsea FC" is written by Nick Purewal and will also tell other stories from that accelerated 95-day sale - run by Raine Bank under the supervision of the UK government - and will be released by Biteback Publishing this summer.

The funds from the sale remain in a frozen bank account while Chelsea are aiming to qualify for the Champions League and win a trophy for the first time under the new American ownership.

Chelsea have joined the race for Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa, 25, and will challenge Manchester United for the signature of the Portugal international. (Teamtalk, external)

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BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions as we approach the final handful of games.

Dave asked: Hi Phil, what would say needs to happen to make Chelsea's season a success? A top five finish? Uefa Conference League trophy, or both? Do you think they are in a better place now than a year ago?

Phil replied: Hello, Dave.

Chelsea is a really strange one. I actually thought they might be title contenders around November/December when they were looking so good and Cole Palmer was in such great form.

Since then it has all gone very flat, with Chelsea fans clearly having reservations about Enzo Maresca's style.

Obviously, winning a trophy is always success – and Chelsea should win the Europa Conference League - but I do believe their season will only be viewed as a success through the prism of Champions League qualification.

For a club of Chelsea's stature and ambition, qualifying for the Champions League is actually more important than winning the Conference League.

Will Faulks
Fan writer

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Chelsea's last-minute win over Fulham on Sunday earned them three important points in the race for the Champions League places.

At full-time, just moments after Pedro Neto had lashed in the winner, the team rushed to the delighted away support. It looked like an important moment of connection, with the players trying to atone for their poor recent performances and the fans happy to be able to show some appreciation after weeks of grumbling and growing tensions.

One person was not there to see it, however. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca had gone down the tunnel without much hesitation after the final whistle and, while he later claimed he just wanted to let his squad enjoy the moment, it was hard not to see it as a pointed gesture from a man who was being jeered by those supporters in the first half.

While the players have been criticised for playing poorly, they can easily earn back the love of the fans with better performances - or even just a couple of good goals, as we saw on Sunday.

The problems with Maresca are deeper. They are a question of philosophy as much as results.

He has said he only knows one way to play, and will not change it. Chelsea fans have made it very clear they do not like that style.

Good results will always mask any problems, but they will not solve them entirely. Without something fundamental changing, Maresca is only ever going to be a few bad results away from the sort of disharmony that has been hanging over this team since Christmas.

That is not a solid base for a team to build on, and it is cause for concern no matter what happens in the final games of the season.

Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News, external

Manchester City midfielder Nico O'Reilly will sign a new contract at Etihad Stadium after Chelsea showed an interest in the 20-year-old. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Tottenham are weighing up a £30m summer offer for Blues midfielder Renato Veiga. (Football Insider), external

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Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Chelsea have guaranteed they will finish above 15th in the Premier League which automatically triggers an obligation to buy winger Jadon Sancho.

The Blues would pay between £20m and £25m to Manchester United for the on-loan attacker after beating Fulham on Sunday afternoon.

However, they have a £5m clause to get out of the deal and senior officials have privately refused to rule out using it to get out of signing Sancho permanently.

The 25 year old has three goals and 10 assists in 34 matches for Chelsea this season.

Manager Enzo Maresca has explained a decision will be made at the end of the season.

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There are still some causes for concern at Chelsea after the comeback win, with struggling forward Christopher Nkunku left out due to a "technical decision".

In addition, Enzo Maresca said that defender Malo Gusto's muscular injury is "not a good one" and the Frenchman joins defender Wesley Fofana and striker Marc Guiu on the injured list, with winger Mykhailo Mudryk provisionally suspended following a failed drugs test.

After the match, Maresca said his decision not to celebrate with the away end was more about giving his players time in the spotlight.

He said: "I was very happy because it is a nice feeling to win the game at the end but I think it was a moment for the players because they deserve to celebrate with the fans.

"That's the reason I left the pitch immediately. And then when we scored the second one, I celebrated and this was the reason they give me the yellow card, but it was a nice moment between the players and the fans to share that moment. I said many times, the players need to feel that support."

There remains concern about the 16-game goal drought of Cole Palmer and Chelsea's general lack of production from their forward line.

Jadon Sancho's strike against Ipswich last week, ending a run of 21 games without scoring, was the first by a Chelsea forward in the league since 25 February.

Striker Nicolas Jackson has not found the net in 13 matches, while matchwinner Pedro Neto's goal was his first in eight matches.

Read the full analysis piece by Nizaar Kinsella here

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The late comeback at Fulham that maintained Chelsea's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League was "about the spirit" in the group, says winger Pedro Neto.

Enzo Maresca's side scored twice in the final 10 minutes to narrowly avoid a damaging defeat and move into fifth - level on points with Nottingham Forest who play their game in hand against Tottenham on Monday evening.

"Sometimes the game is not about the quality, it is about the spirit, and that is what we showed, the mentality we have and the group that we are," Neto said.

"It's not easy to spend all season in the top four and then be out of it before this game, but the character the team showed is really good. We have to think about Everton next week and winning against them too.

"The belief has always been there - even in the bad moments. Everyone has bad moments and what you have to do is continue like this."

Neto completed the comeback with a fine turn and finish after youngster Tyrique George had equalised with his first Premier League goal.

"When I received the ball, I just spun around and shot as hard as I can, and the ball went in," the Portugal international added.

"What a finish it was by Tyrique. He has been working with us for a while already. In the middle of the week we were all joking with him because of one he did in training and today he showed what he can do.

"He scored a beautiful goal."

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca will be suspended for one match after picking up his third yellow card of the season.

The Italian was booked while celebrating Pedro Neto's 93rd-minute winner at Fulham on Sunday and will not be on the touchline for the home game against Everton next weekend.

Maresca's two previous bookings came against Newcastle United and Bournemouth.

Assistant manager and former goalkeeper Willy Caballero could replace Maresca before he returns to the dugout for the game against Liverpool in two weeks.

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Fulham and Chelsea.

Here are some of your comments:

Fulham fans

Will: So many points lost from winning positions this year. Even if we had taken half of those, we would be a certainty for European football. A season of what might have been.

Rob: After a dominant first half, we seemed scared in the second half. This is the most frustrated I have been this season. It was as if the players seemed weighed down with the expectation of finally doing the double over them.

Robert: Always seems to be trouble when we score first. The disappointing thing this season is our inconsistency, often caused by our failure to see games out.

Chelsea fans

George: After a lacklustre first half devoid of ideas or incisive play, Pedro Neto seemed to galvanise the team to push on and never quit. Maybe the youthfulness told in the end and Fulham's legs ran out, but after a goal against the run of play from Fulham, it was great for us to get a win away from home and keep up the fight for the Champions League. This will hopefully be the trigger for an exciting run-in with all to play for. A must-win, won. Next!

Alan: Woeful again. There is just no enthusiasm in the team. Cole Palmer just seems to be running round like a headless chicken and Nicolas Jackson is really out of his depth. Enzo Maresca's one and only plan is becoming tiresome now and lacks any excitement. All the back and sideways passing is becoming boring. Sixty years I have been a supporter, and I cannot think when it was this bad.

Mick: Decent second half. Definitely need a striker getting on the end of all the crosses or they are just wasted. We got away with one.

Highlights and analysis from Sunday's four Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to Sunday's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Ipswich Town 0-4 Arsenal

• Manchester United 0-1 Wolves

• Leicester City 0-1 Liverpool

Chelsea's obligation to buy on-loan Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho has been triggered, after the Blues' win against Fulham ensured they will finish above 15th in the Premier League. (GiveMeSport), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Michael Beardmore
BBC Sport Journalist

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Chelsea's exorbitant spending can sometimes make them an easy target - but you do wonder why they splurge such fees with the talent they have in-house.

Of course, significant investment is also poured into the Blues' famed academy and the evidence of that was clear in Sunday's dramatic derby turnaround at Fulham.

Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah and Reece James were among the homegrown talent on show as Chelsea revived their Champions League hopes with derby delight.

But it was teenager Tyrique George who stole the show with an instinctive finish from the edge of the area that sparked the Chelsea comeback.

It has been a bit of a strange breakthrough season for the 19-year-old, who's mixed facing Barrow, Morecambe, Noah and Shamrock Rovers in domestic and European cups with substitute league appearances against the likes of Arsenal and Brighton.

Now, having netted twice in three games, following his opener in the Conference League first leg win at Legia Warsaw, will boss Enzo Maresca be tempted to hand this largely unknown, but clearly talented, quantity more minutes in the run-in?

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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, speaking to BBC Match of the Day after the 2-1 victory over Fulham: "Very happy. First of all because I think we deserved to win the game.

"We started well in the first 20 minutes then we conceded a goal unfortunately and in a match that is must win, it's not easy for the players.

"It becomes more difficult but second half, we also changed something tactically and it was much better. We were a little bit more dynamic with Malo Gusto inside. He is doing this fantastically for us since day one and second half we were much better."

On Tyrique George: "He is a talent, he has to work hard. He's doing well with us, deserved a chance and the goal was fantastic. It was all very important because it gave us an energy boost for the last push."

On Jadon Sancho: "He is doing well but at this moment we have him, Madueke and Pedro Neto, and also Tyrique who can play wide. In this moment they are all good so it is easy for me to decide but also easy to change because the ones who are out are doing well."

On rest of the season: "We have five Premier League games and two in the Conference League - so seven games and they are all games we need to win."

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Aged 19 years and 75 days old, Tyrique George became Chelsea's fifth-youngest goalscorer in the Premier League and youngest since Callum Hudson-Odoi netted against Burnley in January 2020 (19y 65d).

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