Chanting while tanks are rolling through Ukraine is no time to voice gratitude

BURNLEY CHELSEA

CHELSEA’S fans may feel they have nothing to reproach themselves about over their bond with Roman Abramovich.

But chanting an oligarch’s name while Russian tanks are rolling mercilessly through Ukraine is not the time to voice their gratitude.

The travelling Blues supporters joined the applause as Turf Moor rose before kick-off in a show of solidarity with the besieged Ukrainian people.

There was even a small blue and yellow flag fluttering at the front of the stand that housed them.

Then it came. “Roman Abramovich, Roman Abramovich.” Quietly at first but then louder – until it was drowned out by jeers from the three other sides of the ground.

Those fans can hide behind Abramovich’s claim that he is not as close to Vladimir Putin as others have claimed.

But other than paying lipservice to the victims of the conflict, Abramovich has done little to suggest that he opposes the invasion.

And there must be a compelling reason for him to put the club up for sale.

The Blues have won 21 trophies since Abramovich arrived at Stamford Bridge – and that means he can bank almost as much credit with the Chelsea faithful as he has roubles.

Unless he brokers the sale of the club before the end of the season, there is a decent chance that Thomas Tuchel’s side will add to his roll of honour.

After losing last week’s Carabao Cup final on penalties, they have moved into the quarterfinals of the FA Cup and already have one foot in the last eight of the Champions League.

Flexed

This victory keeps alive their slim hopes of turning the title race into a three-way fight.

The west Londoners were knocked out of their comfort zone by Sean Dyche’s relegationthreatened side.

But they flexed their muscles in the second half to put Burnley in their place with four goals in 21 minutes.

Once the impressive Reece James put the visitors ahead by twisting Dwight Mcneil insideout and firing an angled shot into the far corner, the Clarets were punctured.

Kai Havertz helped himself to a couple of goals from the kind of service that would have had Romelu Lukaku licking his lips on the bench.

And Christian Pulisic completed the scoring after a mistake by Burnley skipper James Tarkowski.

Tarkowski is an England international, born-and-bred in Manchester. His grandad,

Boleslaw, came to the north-west of England from Poland after fighting the invading Russians and Germans from the turret of a tank at the start of WWII.

The centre-back insists he’s as English as fish and chips – but he has family in Poland who could tell him of the flood of humanity pouring into their country from across the Ukrainian border.

For 45 minutes, it seemed that Dyche’s team might be imposing their own version of sanctions.

And the Clarets really should have reached the interval with something substantial to show for the way they got on the front foot against the world and European champions.

Mcneil was a constant threat down the left.

The winger was wasteful with a couple of early crosses when a better delivery would have put striker Wout Weghorst in on goal.

Weghorst then had a closerange volley hacked off the line by Thiago Silva before Mcneil wasted a golden chance on the half-hour.

Ashley Westwood’s cross into the box was so bad that the midfielder had actually offered up his hand in apology as the ball dropped from the heavens.

But Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy could only flap the ball down to the feet of Mcneil.

It seemed he couldn’t miss, but he lifted his shot over an empty goal from 10 yards.

Dyche must have feared the worst – and he was right to. Chelsea were transformed after the break.

“We’ve won it all,” chanted the travelling fans as Turf Moor emptied in the closing minutes. Thanks to their benefactor, they have.