Graham Potter is facing up to a manic six-week run of games before the World Cup as he looks to kickstart Chelsea's season.
The Englishman was appointed to replace Thomas Tuchel three weeks ago, with the Blues sitting seventh in the Premier League table, behind even newly-promoted Fulham. So far, he has only taken charge of a solitary Champions League game, with his first top-flight match coming on Saturday against Crystal Palace.
That trip to Selhurst Park is the start of a hectic run of 13 games before the World Cup kicks off in Qatar. Here, Mirror Football breaks down their schedule to see how Potter may fare in solving the problems that have plagued the start of Chelsea's season.
October fixtures in full: Crystal Palace (A) Oct 1, AC Milan (H) Oct 5, Wolves (H) Oct 8, AC Milan (A) Oct 11, Aston Villa (A) Oct 16, Brentford (A) Oct 19, Man Utd (H) Oct 22, Red Bull Salzburg (A) Oct 25, Brighton (A) Oct 29
A brutal month for Chelsea begins on Saturday with a trip to Selhurst Park. Potter will be buoyed by the fact that the Blues have not lost to Palace since 2017 and are on a 10-game winning run against them.
Four days later, the Blues host AC Milan in the Champions League, looking to move off the bottom of their group. The game against the Italian champions will be the first true test of Potter against elite opposition and he will be hoping for a positive performance.
The reverse fixture at the San Siro will take place a week later, following a visit of Wolves to Stamford Bridge that should yield three points. After the trip to Italy, the Blues face two away trips, first to struggling Aston Villa.
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They then take on Brentford, in what could be a tricky game for Potter's men. Chelsea's opponents three days later, Manchester United, certainly know the perils of a trip to the Bees, having been hammered 4-0 by them earlier in the season.
That game against the Red Devils is the first time that Potter's Chelsea side will take on a fellow 'Big Six' team and will be the first realistic marker of the Englishman's progress. The Blues close the month with a trip to Austria to face Red Bull Salzburg.
And then one of the highlights of Chelsea's next six weeks months will come, with Potter facing former club Brighton for the first time. Chelsea will hope to bring in a substantial amount of points given November will be much trickier.
November fixtures in full: Dinamo Zagreb (H) Nov 2, Arsenal (H) Nov 6, Man City (A) Nov 9, Newcastle United (A) Nov 12
Momentum will be the key for Chelsea heading into the final four games before football's focus switches to Qatar. They start the month with a relatively easy Champions League game against Dinamo Zagreb, though will have to be wary having lost the reverse fixture against them in Tuchel's final game.
Seven challenging days then follow for Potter's men, with a difficult final three matches ahead of the World Cup. First they take on Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, with Mikel Arteta's men currently flying high in the Premier League.
Three days later, a trip to champions Manchester City awaits, arguably the toughest fixture Potter's side will have before the World Cup. Their final game before the tournament will be a trip to Newcastle United, who could still be tricky opponents despite their form dropping off in recent weeks.
