While much of the nation has wound down to enjoy the festive season and a break from work, Chelsea are only just truly getting back into gear. The Blues are set to face Bournemouth as the Premier League kick starts into action and head back into another intense schedule of football.
Graham Potter has managed to find some time off since Chelsea's last game, a one-nil defeat that consigned the Blues to three losses in a row and compounded a difficult run after an initial nine-match unbeaten streak from the Blues boss. The 47-year-old was left with plenty to stew over as his stars took off for the World Cup, but did manage to find some time off of his own, sort of.
The Blues boss was thankful to have some time away as he travelled from LA to San Francisco along with his wife and returned feeling healthy. Even on another continent, the work did not stop entirely however as Potter met up with Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali.
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"Yeah, when I was over in California I met with Behdad so that was good," said Potter. "Had a good chat with him. Fantastic support, really looking forward to the weeks and the months and the years ahead. We understand where we're at at the moment, understand the challenges we have but that's where we are on the journey at the moment.
"I would liked to have go up and down California with a couple of wins but it wasn't to be so you have to reflect, you have to take the pain and get the frustration and work out how can we go forward, how can we make this situation better. That's the job, that's what I spent a bit of my time doing.
"We've had a really good, positive two or three weeks with the players. Feels like there's a good spirit, a real good connection around the building so everything has gone well in that regard. Clearly the proof is in the pudding, we understand we have to perform well and we have to try to win the game."
While a meeting with the boss is not how many plan to spend their holidays, Potter's view of Eghbali and the owners has only served to be improved. The former Brighton boss is pleased with the relationship he is forming.
He said: "I've said before, I think I'm even more confident now, even more aware of the support I have now than I was three months ago when I took the job. That tells you something. It's a credit to them, their support, how they've communicated with me, it's been fantastic. You know, the pressure, the demands of this football club but we also know that there's enough people that can put it into perspective, enough people who can see the situation and can see where we're at to be able say, 'okay this is where we are and how can we improve and how can we go forward?'."
Nevertheless, some time away from Cobham's training pitches did give Potter time to reflect. The Pacific coastline offered plenty of room to think and to take in impressive views of the sea. It's easy to see how you could get lost in your thoughts, though, perhaps his wife expected them to be on the holiday rather than home.
"I would rather have gone on holiday with a couple of wins behind me because I would probably have been better company for my poor wife. As it was, I'm staring into the Pacific Ocean as you say and she's thinking I'm thinking what a wonderful time we're having and I'm thinking about Chelsea Football Club. Thankfully she's been with me long enough to know that's how it is.
"You have to use that pain, the frustration, the disappointment of the last few weeks to say okay how can we go forward? Like anything, a bit of distance gives you that time, a bit of perspective. Then it's about how you can start the process of integrating all of the players back and taking the learning of that time and saying we need to show some direction here to go forward."
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