Chelsea co-owner and chairman Todd Boehly has reportedly approached a Premier League club over a possible four-year ground share. Fulham is the club in question. Twickenham and Wembley have been mentioned as potential temporary destinations, too. Surely Blues fans will be shocked and rather strongly opposed to one of the options in particular.
Seeing Chelsea supporters travel the short distance to Craven Cottage is no surprise. The two English capital outfits have been competing against one another for over a century. Incidentally, the Cottagers won the first battle 1-0, 113 years ago. Bygones. But moving to one of their London rivals’ stadia feels alien.
However, that proposal is exactly what recent speculation states. You see, CFC ownership are determined to improve Stamford Bridge or ultimately switch sites. And they may be sharing a pitch for a long period. Daily Mail claim that Boehly ‘informally approached counterpart Shahid Khan about using Fulham’s ground’.
Chelsea’s daunting seven-fixture run upon return
When the Blues squad members make their respective way back to their club, they have no time to spare and won’t be having a rest. That is because there is a succession of seven testing matches over the space of 22 days in April. Meaning the west London side face a contest just over every three days on average.
This spell of games also includes both Champions League quarterfinals meetings, at home and away at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. An improving Aston Villa get the phase underway on April Fool’s Day; Liverpool and Wolves are next on the schedule. Following those events is a trip to Madrid very quickly after.
Immediately after flying to Spain, the team will play head coach Graham Potter’s former side, Brighton & Hove Albion. Straight afterwards is the return leg with los Blancos. Finally in this stretch is Manchester United at Old Trafford. It’s really make or break for the manager over this particular span of encounters.