CHELSEA’S Carabao Cup final defeat to Liverpool might actually be a positive for the club.
The Blues suffered a 1-0 loss to Jurgen Klopp’s side after missing several chances at Wembley.
Virgil van Dijk scored the decisive goal with just a few minutes left to play in extra time, prompting a bold statement from Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville.
The former Manchester United defender said: “In extra time it’s been Klopp’s kids against the blue, billion-pound bottlejobs.
“Liverpool have been absolutely sensational. These young players have been incredible, Klopp must be so proud.
“However, for Chelsea, I have no sympathy for them whatsoever. Mauricio Pochettino’s players have shrunk, they’ve shrunk right in front of our eyes and in front of their fans.”
Read More on Football
The result saw Chelsea set a new record for the most domestic cup finals lost in a row.
They have now suffered six straight defeats in FA Cup and Carabao Cup finals, stretching back five years to 2019.
However, Sunday’s defeat could actually be a blessing in disguise for the Blues.
Winning the Carabao Cup could have caused the club MORE financial problems.
Most read in Football
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
If they had beat Liverpool, Chelsea would have earned a spot in next season’s Europa Conference League – but that would come with more Financial Fair Play restraints.
Under Uefa rules, introduced this season, clubs competing in any competition next term will be restricted to spending a maximum 80 per cent of their revenues on wages and transfers.
Chelsea’s income is likely to fall to below £450m this season and next, with the Conference League worth no more than a maximum £15m if a team wins every game.
Assuming that £450m income figure, Chelsea will not be allowed to spend more than £360m – which, given their current wage-bill, leaves just £10m to play with.
In addition, Uefa’s FFP regulations, which will be a two-year calculation next season, will only allow losses of £34m across 2023 and 2024, with calculations now done on a calendar year basis.
It makes the prospect of Chelsea embarking on another huge summer spending spree, whoever is the manager, far less likely.
Because the Blues regime amortised the transfer fees of the majority of their recruits over the past 18 months across up to eight seasons, they are carrying huge costs.
Those sums still hanging over each player must be taken off the profits for any sales.
Financial analysts including former Manchester City executive Stefan Borsson have already predicted that Chelsea will have to sell players in the six-week gap between the end of the season and the close of the football financial year on June 30 to avoid breaching Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules.
Those regulations give clubs leeway to make “allowable losses” of £105m over three seasons.
The latest figures from accountants Deloitte estimated Chelsea’s annual wage bill at £350m, while their current “amortisation costs” of transfers is believed to be in the realm of £180m-plus heading into next year.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Chelsea are already likely to earn at least £17m less in Prem TV money than they had envisaged.
A top six place would be worth around £157m compared to the £140m if they remain in their current 11th position.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
