Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta has told team-mates they must keep their heads and focus on a decisive end to the season despite the chaos engulfing the club.
The Blues have been in limbo since the UK Government sanctioned owner Roman Abramovich for his links to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
That unprecedented move sparked a fire sale of the club with bidders now waiting to find out if they have made the final shortlist, which is being determined by US merchant bank Raine Group.
There have also been challenges for those further down the ranks. There have been limits placed on how much can be spent on travel to away games, while Chelsea cannot sell or sign any players nor dish out new contracts.
Manager Thomas Tuchel has tried to isolate his squad from the turbulence in recent weeks and, with Chelsea still fighting to retain their Champions League title and win the FA Cup, Azpilicueta says the squad must act in the right way.
"We are living in moments of uncertainty at Chelsea, that is the reality," the Blues skipper said. "The uncertainty isn't great, but what we players have to do is work. We are entering a decisive phase of the season and the situation is out of our hands.
"We are experiencing something new. Day by day we discover information, but on a day-to-day basis nothing has affected us. We have not experienced major changes.
"But the predisposition for the squad has always been to act in the right way. There is unity and strength from the team and the fans.
"We are living in a moment of uncertainty, but we are very united. There is always a predisposition to help out where we can."
Azpilicueta is one of a number of Chelsea players out of contract at the end of the season. Currently the club are powerless to offer the Spaniard an extension but should a new owner be installed before the summer, that sanction will be lifted.
However, it is expected that the 32-year-old will depart after a decade of service and join Barcelona.
Asked about his future, Azpilicueta refused to commit himself to Chelsea beyond the end of the season.
"This is not the place or the time," he said. "What we have learned with the pandemic is to live day to day and in the moment."
