Graham Potter's next 10 Chelsea games will be played in 32 days, they include trips to Milan and Austria, and will largely determine how successful his first season in charge at Stamford Bridge can be.
It's been a tough start for the new manager given he was appointed three weeks ago but has only managed one game and was split from the majority of his squad for an international break shortly after arriving. With time now to prepare for his first league game in charge, this weekend against Crystal Palace, Potter will be in need of a fast start.
His squad face a challenge to reassert themselves in the league table, albeit with 32 matches still to go, and have a Champions League group to get out of that . None of these will be his biggest test though, according to former winger Pat Nevin.
READ MORE: Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from Stamford Bridge
Inside Tuchel's first 10 games at Chelsea, which were in the middle of a pandemic, further into a season and after replacing Frank Lampard as manager - Chelsea don't do simple - he had just 33 days himself. These matches formed the basis of an incredible second half revival.
The German won seven of those 10, losing none and drawing three. His side kept eight clean sheets, conceded just two goals, scoring 11. Tuchel's biggest Chelsea quality was his ability to win knockout matches and Potter will need this against Milan in what is effectively a knockout situation. Potter doesn't have to replicate those standards, but the importance of a good start cannot be overstated, especially with home and away matches against AC Milan to come.
The biggest threat to Chelsea will be a journey to the south coast though, says Nevin. "Maybe it will be the match against Brighton down on the south coast at the end of October that will play on the head coach’s mind more than any other," he writes for the club website.
"There are plenty of heartless people in football, but Graham Potter isn’t one of them, so his return to the Amex Stadium will have a special place in his heart, whatever the reaction is from his former acolytes in the stands.
"Our manager will have a stray thought or two about Brighton but in the meantime, maybe next Wednesday will be even harder to put to the back of his mind. If playing Manchester United is the real deal in England, then facing AC Milan is a game of huge historical significance at the top level in European football."
Before that game, scheduled for October 29, Chelsea will have a key top four battle on their hands, but facing rivals Manchester United will be something for Potter to relish, explains Nevin. "The Manchester United game should be one the manager will enjoy as much as any other," he added.
"This will be his first game in charge when it is between two of the very top teams in the Premier League. He will not be phased of course having already faced United at Old Trafford this season and won 2-1 with Brighton, Pascal Gross getting the plaudits along with his manager, while Erik ten Hag got a major reality check."
On top of that early season humbling from Potter, he also beat the Red Devils 4-0 at the end of last season in a statement victory. United are currently a different beast to the team that folded against the Seagulls on the opening day but Potter's previous research will no doubt come in handy.
Even before that match Chelsea have one potentially even bigger. "When you consider both clubs [Chelsea and AC Milan] and their huge impacts in European football, it can only be described as a historical tie," romanticises Nevin.
For Chelsea, they will realistically need a minimum of four points from their matches with the Italian champions. The Blues sit on just one point from the opening two games with their toughest test yet to come.
It really isn't a simple start to things for Potter but if he can get his side on a run, they might prove very difficult to stop. That's the hope, at least.
READ NEXT:
Chelsea handed major boost as AC Milan suffer multiple injuries amid Champions League clash
Christian Pulisic drops major Chelsea transfer hint amid Gabriel Slonina message
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang drops subtle Arsenal hint with 'bad' memory after Chelsea transfer
Todd Boehly makes another Chelsea change that could impact N'Golo Kante after Eden Hazard joy
AC Milan suffer fresh injury blow with six star players now set to miss Chelsea clash
