CHELSEA players are facing a hit to their own pockets if they fail to fight their way into the next season’s Champions League.
The stakes could hardly be higher before tonight’s second-leg clash with Borussia Dortmund, with the future of star player Joao Felix also potentially dependent on the game.
There are big financial drawbacks for clubs who fail to qualify for Europe’s premier competition.
And the Telegraph report that there could be individual hits for many of Chelsea’s stars as well.
Many of the players who have signed for the Blues since last year’s Todd Boehly-led takeover are believed to have Champions League clauses in their contract.
This means they will reportedly face a 25 per cent reduction in their wages if the Blues fail to make it into the Champions League.
READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
If this is the case, it represents a big change from the Roman Abramovich era.
Player salaries did not change based on whether or not Chelsea made it into the top four – but there were incentives for winning trophies.
The London club’s chances of making it into next season’s Champions League do not look particularly encouraging at the moment.
Chelsea need to cut an 11 point gap to fourth-placed Tottenham in their final 13 games of the season.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
Or they need to come from a goal down to beat Dortmund tonight before overcoming three other sides on their way to winning the Champions League for the second time in three years.
Atletico Madrid loanee Felix admits any future at Stamford Bridge beyond this May could depend on how Chelsea European prospects.
He said: “Yeah, playing in the Champions League is always different. It’s a competition that everyone wants to play.
“But now I’m focused on this Champions League, on the game. We have a lot of games yet to try to reach the Champions League in the league. It’s not over.
“But, yeah, playing in the Champions League is an important decision, but the future no one knows, so let’s see what happens and then we’ll see.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
