Graham Potter is now into the third international break of his Chelsea career. The boss was left with a two-week period without his players after only one game in charge before the World Cup saw him at Cobham with just a few first team players for over one month.
With little to play for outside of the Champions League between now and the end of the season Potter has another fortnight to take things in after a manic spell post-Qatar 2022. Sixteen games have been played since the return with five wins and five draws coming in that period.
The first half of the return saw increasing pressure mount over him amid speculation that he may well be removed from his post already. After one win in 11 games the heat had risen but a recent mini-turnaround has since quietened those rumours for now.
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Sitting tenth in the league and out of both domestic cups, the season has been far from successful but there are signs of new positivity with players starting to gel together and injured players returning. The break may well have come at a good time though with the disappointing draw with Everton marring a recent revival.
For Potter, it gives him time to once more re-evaluate and take a step back from the constant pressure of top level management. Behind the scenes things are already much less hectic.
In a video released by the club, a tour of the Cobham training base shows just how empty things have become without players rushing around. The kit room is full of clean matchday wear, tops, shoes, jackets and empty laundry bins. The huge shelves organised per position and per player keeps extensive clothing for all the staff.
Then the staff pegs are on show with coats hung up for Potter and his backroom staff including Billy Reid, Kyle Macaulay, Bruno Saltor, Ben Roberts and Bjorn Hamberg. On the way out to the pitches the empty corridors are covered with pictures of Chelsea's most famous moments including the Europa League win in 2019 and the most recent Champions League success of 2021, a reminder of the club's history.
Then there are the players' boots, left behind for some of the stars not on international duty with others already being taken care of by their countries. Several pairs of goalkeeping gloves can also be seen.
Into the gym and all of the high-tech equipment is laid out but without a user including room for Mykhailo Mudryk to practice his deadlift, have a small kick around or get up to some yoga. The swimming pool is just as prestine. With a basketball hoop there for entertainment, a room for relaxtion is shown just behind the pool too.
A theatre of chairs, for team meetings, is also shown but this time without the players to be part of the process - no tactical instructions today. Into the press conference room and Potter isn't fielding questions from the media as he gets a rest from the spotlight. There's no clicking of keyboards or snapping of the cameras as the lights at Cobham go out.
While Potter and his players not picked for duty will still be training throughout, it is time for a mental reset and recovery, especially for those still out with injury including Thiago Silva, N'Golo Kante - who is not yet match fit - Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount, Wesley Fofana, Edouard Mendy and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
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