LONDON: Chelsea will try their best to ignore the off-the-pitch crisis as they defend their two-goal advantage in the Champions League return against Lille in France.

Goals from Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic provided the goals which brought victory for the European champions at Stamford Bridge last month.

The club have a £20,000 ceiling on away-match costs but travel and hotels had been pre-paid. Manager Thomas Tuchel has insisted that as long as his squad have enough provisions they will be present at kickoff whatever the challenges.

He said: “As long as we have enough shirts and a bus to drive to the games we will be there and will compete hard.”

Chelsea had six senior players out through injury or illness against Newcastle yesterday but still secured a morale-boosting 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge with a superb 89^th-minute goal from Kai Havertz. Newcastle were furious.

Their players thought Havertz should have been shown a in the first half for catching Dan Burn in the face with an elbow when jumping. Havertz was shown only yellow.

Both sides struggled to create clear chances and Chelsea took 75 minutes to produce an effort on target. Earlier keeper Edouard Mendy saved well from Newcastle’s Miguel Almiron and Burn headed just wide.

Tuchel said: “Newcastle were well-organised but we kept on believing. I didn’t feel we were affected by the situation. I’m not a person to worry too much. The focus is on me and my players but there are hundreds at Chelsea who have worked for decades and worry about how to pay their mortgages so it’s the moment to set an example.”

###