The radical alter in the mood at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening could not have been starker than that after Graham Potter's first game in charge against Red Bull Salzburg almost a month ago.
There was the slamming of chairs in frustration, a smattering of boos and the general feeling of exhaustion in a challenging year following a demoralising 1-1 draw. After AC Milan, the opening words of 'One Step Beyond' by Madness are the signal that the Bridge has just seen a memorable performance.
This was arguably the most free-flowing and enjoyable since the defeat of another Italian giant, Juventus, in November of last year. One of the names that helped engineer such positive energy was Ruben Loftus-Cheek, starting his first Champions League game this season alongside Mateo Kovacic in a 3-4-3.
