Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel was enjoying the set-up at Stamford Bridge this time last year, with the Blues making a strong start to the season after the manager was left to focus on matters on the pitch.
The London side took seven points from their opening three games, with Mohamed Salah's penalty for Liverpool the only goal they conceded in their first five. Marina Granovskaia remained on top of transfers, a set-up which Tuchel was clearly fond of, and record buy Romelu Lukaku had made an eye-catching start to life back at Stamford Bridge.
Fast forward 12 months and the situation couldn't be much different. Chelsea are outside the top four with a negative goal difference after six games, while Tuchel has been forced to take a more active role in transfer policy since Todd Boehly's takeover, and as the Blues begin their Champions League campaign in Zagreb they know they'll have to fight to return to the competition next season.
