Source: Daily_Mail
Roman Ambramovich is a football anorak, says Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck
Roman Abramovich may not attend as many Chelsea matches as he used to but chairman Bruce Buck insists the Blues owner's passion is stronger than ever. [LNB]Abramovivch took over at Stamford Bridge in 2003 and his cash helped establish the Londoners as one of the world's leading clubs. [LNB]Buck, in an interview for former Mail on Sunday journalist Ian Ridley's upcoming book There's a Golden Sky, extracts of which have been published in the Daily Telegraph, also highlighted Abramovich's tremendous knowledge of the game. [LNB] Blues brothers: Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck (left) with Roman Abramovich[LNB]He said: 'I would say that his passion for Chelsea has increased not decreased. His passion for football has increased, not decreased. [LNB]'His knowledge of football has increased exponentially. I'm not talking about what goes at the megastore, I'm talking about football. It would be pretty hard to name a current footballer that he couldn't give you statistics for. [LNB]'He doesn't miss a game in the sense that wherever he is in the world he watches the Chelsea game. He calls Eugene Tenenbaum (trusted club director and associate) or whoever after the game and they talk about it. He is very much on top of things.' [LNB] Big buys: Chelsea owner Abramovich splashed his cash to bring in Andre Villas-Boas as manager this year and ?50million record signing Fernando Torres[LNB]Buck remains close to the Russian and remembers when Abramovich hired investment bank UBS Warburg to write a feasibility study, which listed a number of possible options as he looked to take his first steps in the Premier League. [LNB]'It said that Manchester United would be expensive and the fans would go crazy. Aston Villa was for sale but was in Birmingham and the long-term opportunities were limited,' he explained. [LNB] Summer signing: Juan Mata was a ?29m arrival in the recent transfer window[LNB]'Tottenham was on the list along with Chelsea. They were in London; they were in financial trouble. Roman's advisers tried to arrange meetings with Tottenham and Chelsea but for whatever reason, they couldn't set up a meeting with Tottenham, or Tottenham didn't want to meet.' [LNB] Manchester City have overtaken Chelsea with the financial clout of owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan but Buck added: 'That's why we aren't complaining about some of the things City are doing.[LNB] 'We started it after all but, having said that, it is a free world. Obviously what we have done has not pleased the fans of West Ham or Manchester United, but they sure have pleased the fans at Chelsea.' [LNB] Barkley unfazed by Chelsea interest: Everton youngster settled despite ?20m transfer talkRef rage! Villas-Boas makes complaint about officials after Man United loss Double vision! AVB will pick powerful strikers and young talent to face FulhamAVB rules ok! Revealed: Secrets of Chelsea's new boss and his shake-up...All the latest Chelsea news, features and opinion[LNB]
