Blue-turn lifts spirits and helps Brighton day

As Chelsea’s ownership climbed down from plans to join a breakaway Super League, the team climbed into the top four of football’s Premier League with a far-from-impressive 0-0 draw against Brighton yesterday.

Thomas Tuchel’s side were stifled inside Stamford Bridge, barely creating a clear-cut chance against the relegation-threatened visitors who nearly snatched victory in the final 15 minutes as Danny Welbeck struck the post.

The point moved Chelsea above

West Ham on goal difference and into fourth place, the final Champions League qualification position. Chelsea and West Ham play each other on Sunday.

There was more to celebrate outside the stadium for Chelsea’s fans who had gathered before the match to protest against the club’s decision to help create a new, closed-off European league for elite clubs.

Kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes after Chelsea’s team bus was slowed getting into Stamford Bridge because of the protests. Petr Cech, Chelsea’s technical director, got off the bus to talk to the angry supporters, who could be heard calling him a “traitor” in video footage on social media.

Around the same time, fans were seen jumping up and down in celebration as reports filtered through that the club were preparing to withdraw from the Super League.

“It was nice to see the supporters out there, it was nice to see that feeling, that emotion, and everyone’s response,” Brighton manager Graham

Potter said. “It was universal in how everyone got behind the issue.”

Tuchel said he and his players had been affected by all the talk about the Super League.

“We talk of nothing else but Super League before the match,” he said. “Nobody asked about the match.”

During the game, Manchester City became the first club to confirm its withdrawal from the scheme, before Chelsea and the rest of the English clubs followed later.