Graham Potter has highlighted the progress his team have made since coming in before Chelsea face Dinamo Zagbreb in the final Champions League group stage match.
The Blues are already confirmed as winners of their group after beating RB Salzburg last week but face opponents with an outside chance of finishing in the Europa League places. The game comes just days before a crucial Premier League clash against Arsenal for Potter's men as well.
Having won four of his five Champions League games in charge, Potter has got off to a good start but recent league form has been cause for concern after draws against Brentford and Manchester United were followed up by a damaging 4-1 loss to Brighton.
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Having overturned an opening round loss away to Zagreb - Thomas Tuchel's final farewell - Potter has managed to earn Chelsea's passage through to the knockout stages in positive fashion, and that is where his attention lies.
Speaking to the club's social media before the game, Potter said: "It's important not to underestimate the achievement of qualification, especially when you consider where we were after the first couple of games, so all the credit to the players.
"Everybody involved at the club, it's taken a massive effort, you only have to see from teams that haven't qualified how difficult it is."
For Chelsea, qualification alone is not good enough and is seen as the bare minimum, such was the largescale worry after taking just one point from the opening two matches. The fact it has been achieved with relative ease since then is a big boost for Potter, who is finding out the challenges of managing a Champions League side in the toughest possible way.
The former Seagulls boss hasn't been brought in just to ensure a last-16 place is secured every year or even that top-four becomes a more comfortable achievement, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital see the possibility of building and progressing from this place which Chelsea, by hook or by crook, have achieved for the past five years regardless.
Chelsea fans may not be too excited by the prospect of celebrating Champions League qualification, but even Jose Mourinho has done that in the past after helping Tottenham, and expectations must be tempered a period of instability at Stamford Bridge.
For now, all he can do really is focus on the next game and wait for January to come.
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