Graham Potter is used to not having 'normal' at Chelsea so far, but things will slowly get closer to that line in the coming days and weeks. As the World Cup group stage comes to its conclusion, players will be leaving their international bubbles once more and heading back to club action.
How managers, including Potter, chose to deal with this situation and the emotions at play with disappointed stars will be important, but just having a growing group back together poses as a boost for the upcoming weeks. Chelsea are in action in the league again on December 27 but then face another quickfire run of games into the new year.
As Potter sets about working with those he currently has at Cobham, with first team players Kepa Arrizabalaga, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Trevoh Chalobah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang amongst those that have been afforded a midseason break, their teammates will be back soon.
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Chelsea know that England's stars will be in Qatar until Sunday at least. Two players are certain to come back after the Three Lions' last-16 tie with Senegal, if England lose then three will return. The reintergration period will be key for Potter, and amongst those coming back is Kai Havertz.
The German forward crashed out of the group stages for a second tournament in a row despite beating Costa Rica 4-2. Havertz scored two on the night and continues a good run of goal getting form for his country, but he will have to deal with the blow of failing to get out of a group with relative minows Japan and Costa Rica in.
For Potter, though an emotional challenge, having Havertz back may pose as a boost. The 23-year-old is amongst the most talented players in the Blues squad but hasn't hit top form in England. He has scored three goals under the new manager but for £70m he is yet to convince many of his long-term prospects at Stamford Bridge.
With a few extra weeks of time to work with Havertz, Potter will be hoping to energise his forward and get domestic results from him.
Also leaving Qatar in a blaze of anger will be Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian striker saw his side lose to Croatia in the final group game, exiting the group stages at a tournament seen as the last chance for an elite set of players. His return at Chelsea massively backfired and his loan at Inter Milan has been plagued by injury, Potter seems unlikely to ever manage him at SW6 either, but his exit will allow for more time to build fitness for the league season in Italy too.
Lukaku has a poor record when returning from tournaments. In 2014 he only scored 10 times for Everton the season after. After Russia 2018 he only scored 12 for Manchester United. Both of these totals were the lowest he managed in those club shirts. Euro 2020 sawh him move to Chelsea, which didn't work out.
If Havertz is to go on a different path and be a success then he will have to break this run and come back stronger than ever following the major tournament.
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