WITH the expectations placed on Chelsea’s managers notoriously high, Thomas Tuchel begins his first full season knowing he will need to demonstrate quickly that his side have the credentials needed to reclaim the Premier League crown that was last theirs four years ago.

It’s all gone well so far. A Champions League trophy followed by the Super Cup earlier this week, and not forgetting a place in the FA Cup final in May, the German manager’s achievements in his short time suggest that this is a good fit for him and Chelsea. 

But we’ve been here before with the west London millionaires. What has eluded them over recent years has been that sustained success, and as we know, managers who fall short don’t survive long at Stamford Bridge.