Sunday's friendly against Aston Villa was overshadowed by the injury to Armando Broja, an unfortunate event that has already soured Chelsea's important preparations for the season restart after Christmas.
A 1-0 defeat in Abu Dhabi to an almost full-strength Aston Villa was not a disgrace given Graham Potter named a squad filled with few experienced heads. This game was most boosted by the performances by the raw energy of academy talent aiming to impress.
Omari Hutchinson, Charlie Webster, Lewis Hall, Bashir Humphreys, Alfie Gilchrist, Josh Brooking, Malik Mothersille, Ben Elliott, Mason Burstow and Cesare Casadei all got minutes in the friendly.
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It was refreshing to see that many, even if it was enforced due to the World Cup and injuries, it enabled an opportunity for younger players to impress, which is always welcome.
Out of those involved, the most exciting on the ball was Hutchinson, playing from the right of Graham Potter's 4-3-3 formation. The 19-year-old had been on the edges of Chelsea's matchday squad before the break, being an unused substitute against Brighton and Manchester City.
The attacker has quickly made an impression after making the switch from Arsenal in the summer, scoring some impressive goals for the development squad and raising hopes of a first-team call-up in the near future.
“[He was] really good, really good,” Potter said on Hutchinson after the game. “[He was] dangerous, asked questions all the time, I think he hit the bar in the first half, but throughout the game he showed his quality.
“He wasn’t the only one, it was a spirited performance against an experienced Premier League side so it was good.”
Hutchinson showed bravery on the ball. He glided and danced around challenges, looking to orchestrate play and keep a very experienced Lucas Digne guessing on the left of Aston Villa's defence.
His best moment came in the first half, not long after John McGinn had given Villa an early lead, cutting in from the right onto his favoured left foot and almost perfectly bending a curled effort beyond a stranded Robin Olsen. The shot struck the post and cruelly bounced wide, robbing Hutchinson of a superb goal.
But that cannot rule out what was an encouraging evening for the winger, one that offered hope that Hutchinson could join Lewis Hall in academy graduates ready to offer something to Potter's first-team squad now.
Chelsea have lacked a maverick talent, someone capable of evading challenges, good in 1v1 situations and who can do unpredictable things on the ball. There was hope from Todd Boehly back in July that talent had been acquired in Raphinha from Leeds United. A £55million deal had been agreed with the West Yorkshire club and it looked like the first signing of the Boehly and Clearlake era would be the exciting Brazilian.
Then, Barcelona happened.
In the months since, Chelsea fans have rued that change in fortune, seeing the actual attacking additions in Raheem Sterling and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struggle to improve a faltering attack.
Chelsea greatly lacked unpredictability and expression in the last few games before the domestic pause and Hutchinson may offer an unexpected boost for Potter in 2023.
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