Roman Abramovich & Chelsea
Chelsea are back in action on Monday night in the Premier League.
After losing 4-1 to Watford last weekend, is anyone confident that Chelsea will beat West Brom at Stamford Bridge?
Ahead of the game, the Sunday Times have looked into Roman Abramovich and Chelsea’s spending patterns in recent season.
Despite the Russian plowing in a billion pounds into Chelsea since he arrived at the club, the case is made that Abramovich and Chelsea now have problem.
Behind Man City, Man United
When it comes to spending these days, Chelsea are behind Manchesters City and United.
Those numbers are detailed and fleshed out in the Sunday Times as follows:
In these past six years (Man) City have flourished thanks to Abu Dhabi and the traditional powers exploiting their commercial potential.
(Man) United’s turnover since 2012 has increased by 71%, City’s 85%, Arsenal’s 68%, Liverpool’s 82%, Tottenham’s 100%. Chelsea’s (despite winning more than the rest) is up 33%.
You see it in transfers. Post-Hazard, City and United have bought 11 players, combined, for £40m or more and Chelsea two.
Over the past four seasons Chelsea earned £224m compared with £32m at Manchester United, £45m at Arsenal and £69m at Manchester City.
Will Marcos Alonso play vs West Brom?
Many Chelsea and FPL managers are sweating over Marcos Alonso before the West Brom match.
One of the big shocks for Chelsea at Watford was the complete absence of Marcos Alonso from Antonio Conte’s XI.
Alonso has been an ever present for Chelsea this term. And fans were given no indication in the build up to the Watford game that Alonso was a doubt.
On Monday night, reports claimed that the Spanish wing-back was left out the squad as a precautionary measure.
Alonso missed Watford with a minor hamstring issue. So will that keep him out vs the Baggies?
Conte has stayed tight-lipped about his left wing-back. The official line is that Alonso will be a late decision.
Yet, when the Times and the Guardian both predicted Chelsea’s line-up for Monday night, Alonso was in their teams.
There’s a split of opinion on how Chelsea will line up in attack.
Alvaro Morata is again missing, so it’s either going to be Olivier Giroud leading the line or Eden Hazard in a false nine role.
Related: Chelsea vs West Brom predictions: Preview, line-ups & football betting tips.
Bookies slash odds on shock Antonio Conte replacement at Chelsea.
