INTERNATIONAL: Chelsea put aside their off-field turmoil to keep a grip on third place in the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Newcastle United while Arsenal leapfrogged Manchester United into fourth with a 2-0 victory over Leicester City on Sunday.
Everton's plummet towards the relegation zone continued as they lost 1-0 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers but Leeds United gained some respite with a last-gasp 2-1 win over bottom club Norwich City.
Leaders Manchester City, who are three points ahead of Liverpool, are at Crystal Palace on Monday. Liverpool won 2-0 at Brighton on Sunday.
The 19-year reign of Chelsea's owner and backer Roman Abramovich effectively came to an end this week after the UK government-imposed sanctions on the Russian, with the club operating under a special license.
With the club up for sale and dealing with a series of restrictions on their current operations, it was perhaps not surprising that Chelsea was far from their best against Eddie Howe's improving Newcastle.
THOMAS TUCHEL, SAYING:
“We, there're some circumstances we cannot influence and that is at some point not so nice, because you have no strings to pull and no actions to do to help, but on the other side it gives you the freedom to focus on the stuff we can influence, and this is our performances and show the spirit.”
“Chelsea’s much more than only the first team in Premier League. It’s a massive club. Massive club with huge tradition and there are so, hundreds, hundreds of people who maybe, pretty sure very more than our players and the staff, me included, and for them it’s important that we show the spirit and we give them a bit of distraction and, kind of, hope and show what we are about. We are about football, because we love the game.”
No, my last information is that we have a plane, but, and we can go by plane and can go back by plane. If not, we go by train. If not, we go by bus. If not, I drive a seven-seater, honestly, and I will do, can mark my words. I will do. I will arrive there, I mean, if you asked me like 20 years ago, 30 years ago if I would join a Champions League match at the sideline, and what I was willing to do, I would say ‘okay, when do I have to be where?’, and why should this change? I will be there, and we will be there.”
REPORTER: “There were Saudi Arabia flags in the away end today. There were 81 executions in Saudi Arabia yesterday, and they have a war in Yemen. Your club is in your situation, do you find it weird at all that one club is in one situation, and one club isn’t?”
TUCHEL: “Wow, ja, it’s a big one, and unfortunately the situation is like this, also for the owners of Newcastle, and that affects in the end, ja, it is, what can I say? But I don’t want to point the finger because, like, comparing yourself or blaming the others does not make the situation for us a different situation, and I think, like, the statement that we condemn war and the action from Russia towards Ukraine, they are, like, there’s no doubt. But we’re facing the consequences, actually, at the moment, and this is where the focus is. I hope you can understand that.”
But with the match seemingly heading for a draw, Jorginho launched a long pass over the Newcastle defense to Kai Havertz and the German's brilliant control allowed him to fire past Martin Dubravka for his fourth goal in three league games.
Chelsea's German manager Thomas Tuchel said the team had a responsibility to those at the club facing a much more difficult situation than the playing and coaching staff.
