Thomas Tuchel appeared consistently stressed during Chelsea's chaotic tour of America last summer.
Mauricio Pochettino, in contrast, has largely exuded calm during a busy fortnight in the States as he has got to work in pre-season building a new team in his identity, even if the circumstances have not been perfect.
By the time Chelsea touch down back in London on Friday, a huge 31-man squad will have racked up close to 10,000 air miles and played five matches across five states.
Pochettino refused to blame the dreadful Soldier Field pitch for the knee injury suffered by Christopher Nkunku here in Chicago last night, though it was an issue throughout the game after the stadium hosted an Ed Sheeran concert on Saturday.
The striker's injury marred a 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund, and the £52million summer signing is now a major doubt for the season-opener against Liverpool a week on Sunday.
But, aside from fitness concerns over his new arrival, Pochettino will reflect on a positive spell in the US after some encouraging signs in the first phase of his Chelsea rebuild.
Physically, Chelsea are already much fitter. The squad's levels of fitness slipped last season but, following gruelling sessions led by assistant Jesus Perez, they look ready for the campaign. Games have been played at a high intensity for pre-season fixtures and there has been evidence of Pochettino's trademark high-energy pressing system.
Tactically, it has been clear how Pochettino wants his team to play. Chelsea have consistently played out from the back, Pochettino has encouraged his full-backs to attack and there has been a fluidity to the forward line in a new 4-2-3-1 system.
Nkunku has looked ready to star for Chelsea, and his injury is a blow. He has scored three goals in five pre-season appearances playing up front, on the wing and as a No10. Chelsea lost much of their attacking identity after he went off last night and Pochettino could do with him making a swift recovery.
Nicolas Jackson, a £32m summer arrival, has also impressed. His blistering pace running in behind should make him a real threat to Premier League defences, while his hold-up and link-up has been excellent.
Raheem Sterling, meanwhile, has struggled but Mykhailo Mudryk has looked much improved in his limited appearances as he builds his fitness.
Ian Maatsen has arguably been the big surprise of the tour. The left-back, who spent last season on loan at Burnley, has been used on the wing in a role where he tucks into midfield and allows the full-back behind to overlap. He has been one of the standout performers.
Pochettino is giving serious consideration to keeping Maatsen and new Brazilian teenage midfielder Andrey Santos in his first-team squad next season. Levi Colwill, who yesterday signed a new six-year contract, appears ready to start alongside Thiago Silva at centre-back in the first game of the season against Liverpool.
Ben Chilwell looks back to his best but Reece James, just back from another injury, is still playing within himself.
Pochettino and his backroom staff have already built a good rapport with the players, and a squad that was fractured last season has bonded through card game UNO, shopping trips, table tennis matches, darts competitions and computer games.
Pochettino suggested last night that the Chelsea team that lined up against Dortmund was a "test" for his plans to face Liverpool.
He started last night's match with a back four of James, Silva, Colwill and Chilwell, a midfield two of Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher and then Raheem Sterling, Carney Chukwuemeka and Nkunku behind Jackson.
Despite the departure of 12 players this summer, Pochettino has stressed the need to trim his squad further and ideally he would like to work with 22 players.
More exits are expected before the summer transfer window closes on September 1, while Pochettino also desperately needs to strengthen his midfield options and add some more experience to a young squad with an average age of just over 22.
Chelsea appear to have made little progress in their move to sign Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo, having had an £80m bid rejected for their top transfer target.
They want to sign at least one midfielder, a goalkeeper and potentially another forward.
But encouraging signs on the pitch, plus an uplift in the mood, mean it has been a positive few weeks.
