Nov
01
The best images from the KRC Genk Arena in Belgium where the top and bottom sides in Group E are meeting
Jonny Weeks
Aug
26
• Tottenham in group with holders Internazionale
• Have your say on the Champions League draw
English clubs largely had reasons to be pleased with the draw for the Champions League group stages, which took place in Monaco this afternoon. Manchester United will travel to Scotland to take on Sir Alex Ferguson’s former club Rangers with Valencia and Turkish champions Bursaspor completing Group C.
Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham, who secured their first appearance in the Champions League group stage with yesterday’s 4-0 win over Young Boys, appear to have the trickiest assignment of the Premier League sides after they were drawn in Group A alongside holders Internazionale, now managed by Rafa Benítez, Werder Bremen and Dutch side FC Twente, who Steve McClaren led to the Eredivisie title last season.
Chelsea were matched with Marseille, Spartak Moscow and Slovakian champions MSK Zilinain in Group F. Arsenal appeared to have the most straightforward assignment after drawing Shakhtar Donetsk, Braga and Partizan Belgrade in Group H.
Group A
Inter Milan
Werder Bremen
Tottenham
FC Twente
Group B
Lyon
Benfica
Schalke 04
Hapoel Tel-Aviv
Group C
Manchester United
Valencia
Rangers
Bursaspor
Group D
Barcelona
Panathinaikos
FC Copenhagen
Rubin Kazan
Group E
Bayern Munich
Roma
Basle
CFR Cluj
Group F
Chelsea
Marseille
Spartak Moscow
MSK Zilina
Group G
AC Milan
Real Mardid
Ajax
Auxerre
Group H
Arsenal
Shakhtar Donestsk
Braga
FK Partizan
First round of fixtures will be played on the 14th and 15th September 2010
Champions LeagueManchester UnitedChelseaArsenalTottenham HotspurRangersguardian.co.uk
Dec
30
• Russian owner has converted debt to equity
• ‘It is still our aim to be self-sufficient’
Roman Abramovich has all but wiped out Chelsea’s £340m debt, according to financial figures released by the Premier League leaders today.
The club’s 2009 results reveal losses down to £44.4m and a compensation payment of £12.6m to the former manager Luiz Felipe Scolari and three of his staff.
A club statement read: “Following previous conversions of half of the debt, the remainder of the interest-free loans from the parent company, whose ultimate controlling party is Roman Abramovich, have been converted into equity, making the group effectively debt-free.”
Chelsea said the move demonstrated “the continuing commitment from the shareholder to the group”. It will also remove any fears of a meltdown if Abramovich decides to walk away.
The club’s chairman, Bruce Buck, said: “The club’s debt load has been reduced almost to nil in order to provide more long-term stability for the club. The reduction will also enable the club to comply with any regulations on debt levels which are being discussed by the football community.”
Abramovich has bankrolled Chelsea since 2003; the former chief executive Peter Kenyon had spoken of the club breaking even by 2010. The losses announced are down from £65.7m last year but show the club still to be reliant on their owner.
Chelsea’s chief executive, Ron Gourlay, said: “It is still our aim to be self-sufficient and we will achieve this by increasing our revenues as we continue to leverage off our brand. We are reducing our costs by controlling expenses, including salaries and wages.”
ChelseaRoman AbramovichPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk