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Abramovich plans Chelsea legacy

21/10/2005

The billionaire oil tycoon Roman Abramovich has said that he wants to make Chelsea "the most successful football club in the world".

Writing in a foreword to a new book on the club, Abramovich said that he wanted to set foundations that would make the club great for 100 years. He wrote that he did not want fans to have to wait for another half century for a title, as they did before he came to the club.

The Russian oligarch took over Chelsea in the summer of 2003. Since then, he has funded transfers to the tune of £240 million. He said that the club had brought him "much joy and excitement".

"I can think of no more fitting tribute to our centenary season than to enter it as the Premiership champions. That is like a dream come true. It was 50 years since our previous title and everybody's working hard to ensure we will not have to wait that long again," Abramovich wrote.

"In future we hope to bring even more joy than you [the fans] have experienced over the last 100 years. In order to do this many challenges lie ahead: we want to retain the Premiership title and, of course, challenge again in Europe."

Chelsea are top of the Premiership with a 100 per cent record after nine games. They also hit four past Real Betis in the Champions League this week, meaning they have scored 13 goals in their last three matches.

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