FIVE-POINT PLAN

1 DON’T SACK THE BOSS

Chelsea did it last season and ended up as champions of Europe, so there’s an instant contradiction. But when the same thing happened in 2012, Roberto Di Matteo was binned within six months. Unlike Di Matteo, Tuchel has pedigree. Managerial stability has hindered Chelsea’s ambitions to become a dominant force, and it would be a travesty if Tuchel became a one- hit wonder as well.

2 KEEP THE WING- BACKS

Throughout Chelsea’s history, they’ve often looked best playing athletic, dynamic widemen – a tradition going back to the days of Tommy Docherty’s ‘ Little Diamonds’. Glenn Hoddle had success with it in the 1990s; Antonio Conte won the title with Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso; and Tuchel’s wing- backs helped to deliver the Champions League. It gives this side better balance, too.

3 TRUST IN TIMO

So, he only scored six league goals last season, and gave assistant referees sore arms, but relax: before joining Chelsea, Werner had hit 78 goals in four Bundesliga seasons. That isn’t just a freak hot streak. He underscored his xg by a whopping 5.9 last term, more than any other player in the Premier League, but do you know what that means? He was getting chances. Believe: a more confident Werner should thrive in 2021- 22.

4 MAKE MOUNT CAPTAIN

Chelsea were looking to build around a homegrown talent even before John Terry left. Mason Mount can be that talent. There’s a lot to be said for a top academy product with superstar qualities that reinforce the culture of any football club. Mount is the new breed at Chelsea, so give him the armband – the future is now.

5 SHOW A UNITED FRONT

Has anyone succeeded in doing this at Chelsea over the past 20 years? Carlo Ancelotti came closest, but some of football’s biggest names have suffered – even a club legend, in Frank Lampard. Chelsea are European champions and have a young squad heading into the next cycle of its development, so a fractured dressing room is the last thing they need in 2021- 22.