Team manager Thomas Tuchel sees an uncertain future for the Champions League winner after the announced sale of Chelsea by the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.

"Up until now I could only imagine Chelsea with Roman Abramowitsch," said the German coach after winning the round of 16 of the English FA Cup at second division club Luton Town (3-2): "I haven't really realized it yet.

It is of course a massive change.”

Abramovich had previously stated that he wanted to sell the London club and use the net proceeds to support the victims of the war in Ukraine.

Abramovich took over Chelsea in 2003 and supported it with large investments.

Since then, the club has won 19 titles, including two Champions Leagues (2012, 2021) and five English league titles.

"I'm not too worried because I still feel privileged and in a good place," said Tuchel: "I hope for the best and I'm never afraid of change."

Abramovich experienced the high point at Chelsea almost ten years ago.

With a broad grin, he lifted the silver handle pot in the air, and the Chelsea FC players cheered around the billionaire.

And Bayern Munich fans suffered.

Will Abramovich look at pictures like this one from May 19, 2012 again?

With the triumph in the Champions League at the Munich stadium, the heart's desire of the oligarch, who took over the Blues 19 years ago precisely for this purpose, was fulfilled for the first time.

Putin has always been an issue

"FC Chelsea London sold to Russian oil billionaire," wrote the German Press Agency on July 2, 2003 at 11:15 a.m.

The Russian paid 43.5 million euros for the then middle-class club and thus also took on the debt of over 100 million euros.

When asked by a BBC reporter what he thought of Abramovich, a fan outside Stamford Bridge replied by asking if he was a new midfielder.

What followed was an unprecedented stream of payments of Russian millions.

"It was never about business or money, but about pure passion for the game and for the club," Abramovich wrote in the online letter on Wednesday evening, which the blues published on their website.

With the announcement that he would sell the club, the 55-year-old heralded the end of his often controversial era in London.

His alleged personal closeness to Russian President Vladimir Putin was already an issue 19 years ago.

After Russia's attack on Ukraine and the subsequent severe sanctions against Russians and Russian companies, rumors increased that Abramovich was also under a lot of pressure.

MPs in the English House of Commons have repeatedly called for him to be put on the sanctions list.

The oligarch is only considered a friend and supporter within the world of the blues.

The well-being of the club was always the focus of his decisions, Abramovich wrote.

In the current situation, selling is “both in the best interest of the club, the fans, the employees and the sponsors and partners”.

He will not demand repayment of the loans, which are said to amount to £1.5 billion.

A sum that makes it clear why so many fans harshly criticize the system of supported football clubs.

It's an unequal competition.

According to media reports, Romelu Lukaku's Chelsea record transfer of 115 million euros took place last Corona summer.

“Hopefully” not much will change for the team “in the short term”, said Thomas Tuchel, the German coach of the Blues, on Wednesday evening, to whom Abramowitsch owed his second triumph in the Champions League last year.

"Maybe it won't change anything.

We'll do what we can to suppress the background noise and stay focused, which isn't always easy.” Tuchel spoke of “Big News”.

Almost twenty years ago, Abramovich was not alone in donating millions to a football club – but he was the most prominent.

In the meantime, football has long since been discovered for wealthy backers or even states.

The English champions Manchester City practically belong to the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, record champions Manchester United are owned by the Glazer family from the USA.

The Fenway Sports Group is behind Liverpool FC.

Abramovich always provided a face to the millions for Chelsea.

The then German national player Michael Ballack was one of the big transfers in the early Abramovich years in 2006.

In contrast to several other stars, the "Capitano" of the DFB selection came from FC Bayern on a free transfer.

Money does score goals over a longer period of time – provided the right trainers are in place.

Several great coaches tried at Chelsea, including Carlo Ancelotti, José Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

And now Tuchel.