FA Cup

CHELSEA could be without three key stars for their FA Cup quarter-final against Championship side Middlesbrough. The Blues were without Reece James and Callum Hudson-Odoi for their Champions League second leg clash against Lille.
Tuchel could be without James, Christensen and Hudson-OdoiCredit: GETTY
Chalobah could start in Chelsea’s defence
And Andreas Christensen limped off in the first half.
But it didn’t stop Chelsea from scoring two on the night, winning the tie 4-1 overall to progress into the quarter-finals, where they will now face Real Madrid.
The three academy graduates are doubts for Saturday’s fixture.
Boss Thomas Tuchel confirmed: “We have Reece, Callum and Andreas Christensen uncertain.
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“They are in training but not in full training yesterday so let’s see. We still some checks to do and it can be a very tight race, maybe too close.”
With Chelsea looking to win some silverware this season, Tuchel could look to line-up strong.
Edouard Mendy could be the man in between the sticks with Trevoh Chalobah, Antonio Rudiger and Thiago Silva protecting him.
N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic could hold down the midfield for the Blues.
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Club captain Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso could start on the flanks.
Timo Werner could be handed some minutes alongside Christian Pulisic.
And in-form Kai Havertz may get the nod to start up front over Romelu Lukaku.
Alternatively, Lukaku could start up top and Hakim Ziyech may start on the right-hand side.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek may also be handed minutes to impress.
Alternatively, Lukaku, Ziyech and Loftus-Cheek could start More

CHELSEA boss Thomas Tuchel has hit out at his own club over the request to have Saturday’s FA Cup clash at Middlesbrough played behind-closed-doors.The Blues wanted there to be no fans in attendance for their trip to the Riverside Stadium in this weekend’s quarter-final tie.
Thomas Tuchel has stated it was wrong of Chelsea to ask for Saturday’s FA cup clash at Middlesbrough to be played without fansCredit: AFP
The West London outfit are banned from selling match tickets after owner Roman Abromovich’s sanctions and thought it was unfair if Boro had fans there while they didn’t.
Following a huge backlash and talks with the FA, Chelsea – who had sold around 600 tickets prior to the sanctions – eventually issued a U-turn and withdrew their demand.
Middlesbrough hit out at the Champions League holders over their request, branding it ‘bizarre’ and ‘without any merit whatsoever’.
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And now German gaffer Tuchel has criticised the club over the demand – and stated he and his players didn’t agree with it.
Speaking after Chelsea’s 2-1 victory away at Lille on Wednesday night, he said: “[The idea was] not mine or from the team.
“Let me put it like this, we love to play in front of spectators.
“And I don’t think that spectators for opponents should suffer from the consequences [of what’s going on with us].
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“So I think the proposal was withdrawn and it was absolutely the right thing to do, because that was from our side and hopefully it was not meant like this.
“It was not the very best idea to put it like this. We love to play in front of spectators.
“Me and the team were not involved in this decision and I’m happy that it was withdrawn, very happy.”
Boro are now selling the remainder of Chelsea’s ticket allocation to their own fans.
A Middlesbrough statement read: “We have an additional 3,200 tickets available to Boro fans for Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup quarter-final tie against Chelsea at the Riverside.
“These tickets have been returned to the club by Chelsea due to government sanctions.” More

CHELSEA are demanding their FA Cup clash away at Middlesbrough is played behind-closed-doors due to their ban on selling tickets.The Blues have been clobbered with a string of crippling sanctions after owner Roman Abramovich had his assets frozen by the UK government.
Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea side want their FA Cup clash against Middlesbrough to be played behind-closed-doorsCredit: EPA
Blues chiefs had pleaded with officials to let them have some some fans at Saturday evening’s game.
But the club has now announced they were rebuffed in their efforts, meaning Thomas Tuchel’s team will have little support in the last eight clash.
There will be a small handful of Chelsea fans at the Riverside who bought early release tickets prior to Abramovich being sanctioned.
A club statement from Chelsea read: “We are disappointed to announce we will not be able to sell tickets for Saturday’s FA Cup tie at Middlesbrough.
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“Despite engaging in extensive discussions with the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), the deadline to purchase away tickets has passed without appropriate amendments being made to the Government licence which would allow a full allocation of Chelsea supporters to attend.
“Executives at Middlesbrough had been kind enough to extend their deadline for ticket sales and stadium allocation from 7.30pm last night until 9.30am this morning.”
Chelsea did not attempt to hide their anger and frustration as the club added: “It is vitally important for the competition that the match against Middlesbrough goes ahead.
“However it is with extreme reluctance that we are asking the FA board to direct that the game be played behind closed doors for matters of sporting integrity.
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CHELTENHAM FREE BETS AND SIGN UP OFFERS – ALL THE LATEST DEALS FOR THE RACING THIS WEEK
“Chelsea FC recognises that such an outcome would have a huge impact on Middlesbrough and its supporters, as well as our own fans who have already bought the limited number of tickets that were sold before the licence was imposed, but we believe this is the fairest way of proceeding in the current circumstances.
“We will continue to discuss the issue of ticket sales with OFSI as there a number of fixtures still to be played this season and we hope to reach a resolution.”
While Chelsea have just asked for the FA Cup clash to be played behind closed doors it would set a dangerous precedent regarding their intentions for their remaining 10 Premier League games.
And SunSport understands the FA will reject Chelsea’s request, with the West London outfit to have around 500-600 supporters in attendance.
In a statement released by the FA, they said: “We are aware of Chelsea’s request to play their FA Cup quarter-final tie against Middlesbrough behind closed doors.
“The matter will be discussed at the Professional Game Board meeting tomorrow.”
Middlesbrough released their own statement on the request, as they described it as ‘bizarre’.
They said: “We are aware of Chelsea’s request to have Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup sixth round tie played behind closed doors and find their suggestion both bizarre and without any merit whatsoever.
BLUE SERIOUS?
“All concerned are well aware of the reasons Chelsea have been sanctioned and that this has nothing to do with Middlesbrough Football Club.
“To suggest as result that MFC and our fans should be penalised is not only grossly unfair but without any foundation.
“Given the reasons for these sanctions, for Chelsea to seek to invoke sporting “integrity” as reason for the game being played behind closed doors is ironic in the extreme.
“We currently await formal notification from the FA of the next steps but rest assured MFC will resist Chelsea’s actions in the strongest terms.”
Commenting on Chelsea, a Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport source said: “Chelsea and their directors think the club should be able to carry on as if nothing has happened.
“They don’t get that they are a sanctioned entity, and want to wave a magic wand to make it all go away – it’s outrageous.
“We have worked very hard to ensure sporting integrity but what they are proposing will have direct consequence and damage another club.
“It is tin eared and they are living on another planet. They do not get they owned by someone who is linked to a very bad man currently bombing hospitals in Ukraine.
“And yet, despite everything that has been done to keep them running, they are willing to damage another club at the drop of a hat.”

Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan wasn’t surprised by Chelsea’s request when speaking on talkSPORT.
He added that Boro supremo Steve Gibson had suggested that ‘sporting integrity and Chelsea don’t go together in the same sentence’.
Tuchel recently revealed how Chelsea, who travel to France to play Lille in their Champions League second leg clash on Wednesday, cannot fly to Boro with the club facing a ten-hour round trip by coach.
He said: “We want to find solutions, we want to play the match on Saturday as much as we want to play in the Champions League.
“We have a framework to play in Lille with no excuses. It is difficult to arrange things in the best way possible for the FA Cup, but we will deal with it. 
“It isn’t about luxury and bling-bling. This is just a pro level of sports, where we play with two days between matches with our opponent having four days between matches and we arrive with the possibilities of injuries. 
“For that, it is better to arrive with a plan rather than a bus.”
German star Kai Havertz meanwhile has declared he would happily pay out of his own pocket to travel to Teesside this weekend.
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He remarked: “I would pay, no problem. That’s not a big deal for us. To come to the games is the most important.
“There are harder moments in the world, than [worry about] taking the plane or bus to away games.” More