Throughout his Chelsea tenure, Thomas Tuchel has insisted he does not look beyond the next game. It is an approach that will likely serve him very well in the weeks ahead.
There is currently very little certainty at Chelsea following the UK government's decision to sanction owner Roman Abramovich as part of its response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The club's prospective sale is in limbo, as is its long-term future beyond this season.
As things stand, the Blues should be able to see out the remainder of the campaign through a 'Russia Regulation' licence, which lasts until May 31 and maybe tweaked by the government to ensure Chelsea do not go out of business.
Beyond that, who knows? It is almost impossible to predict. Perhaps Chelsea have been sold. Perhaps not. It's why Tuchel can't – and won't – make any big decisions until there is clarity.
"There are negotiations and talks going on about the licence. So let’s see what’s coming," the German said on Thursday. "It makes not a lot of sense for me to comment on the situation now and give an outlook to the future in the summer.
"I trust in everybody who is in charge, I trust people who are in charge in the government to find a solution that keeps us going through the season, and gives us the possibility to be in charge of our actions in the summer.
"I think this is what we can do now. We were all surprised by the news and it is too early to have an outlook on the summer."
What's best for the club is a quick sale. Chelsea, as things stand, can't buy or sell players, offer new contracts, sell tickets, and sell merchandise.
Shirt sponsor, Three, has also requested to suspend their 40m-a-year deal while sleeve sponsor Hyundai and official partner Zapp are also reviewing their positions.
Kit manufacture Nike, meanwhile, has thus far refused to confirm support for Chelsea. Their contract with the club is worth £540million over the next ten years.
Chelsea's players haven't been able to shut out the noise nor ignore the precarious situation the club is in. But they've got on with their jobs and recorded important victories over Burnley and Norwich City in the Premier League.
"As long as we have enough shirts as the bus is full of fuel we will arrive and be competitive," Tuchel insisted. "When it’s a big storm you dig in, you hold together, you stay strong and go through it."
There are few coaches in world football who could have handled the last two weeks better than Tuchel. He has shown empathy and understanding for those impacted by Russia's horrific invasion of Ukraine while being completely honest about the uncertainty that had engulfed Chelsea.
He is very much Chelsea's biggest asset at this moment in time. The man the club must keep no matter what happens – if he is willing to stay, of course.
Under a new owner – or if the Blues were still working under a restrictive government licence with Abramovich sanctioned – Chelsea will almost certainly have to cut their cloth accordingly. The days of lavish spending under the Russian are unlikely to be repeated.
Contracts may not be renewed. High-earning players, if allowed, may depart. Yet Tuchel's squad can be bolstered through returning loanees if nothing else.
Dujon Sterling, Ian Maatsen, Levi Colwill, Conor Gallagher, Billy Gilmour, Tino Anjorin, Armando Broja. These are all players contracted to Chelsea who could be incorporated into the squad by Tuchel much in the same way Frank Lampard leaned on academy graduates during the club's transfer ban of 2019.
Those included Mason Mount and Reece James, both of whom when fit are guaranteed starters. Fikayo Tomori and Tammy Abraham also played their part across two seasons before departing for new clubs.
It would be wrong to simply state history will repeat itself this summer; Chelsea have certainly never been in such a complicated position in their 117-year history. But amid the concern, the fear, the uncertainty, there are small rays of light, crumbs of comfort.
One is Tuchel. Another is the wealth of homegrown talent at Chelsea's disposal. Supporters will hope both can still be enjoyed in the years ahead.
