Graham Potter will likely not get a longer spell to work on his Chelsea team than he does this week. The manager has already had four full days since his arrival with work also being done on September 8 and today (September 13).
With fixture congestion and international breaks coming up, his effective full week of work will be key to implementing early ideas onto his playing squad, laying the foundation for the rest of the season, one which could yet have more than 55 games left in it domestically, let alone players with World Cup ambitions too.
For Potter, his first 11 days will include just one match, with extra days after September 18 afforded before travel commences for the first international break of the season. His wait for the first league match, 28 days, will be longer than Thomas Tuchel had over pre-season to work on his squad.
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Although the bulk of these days will not be spent speaking directly to his squad, as most of them will be playing matches around the world, it is a chance to get used to his surroundings.
This has come about due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II last week. Her passing on September 8 saw all Premier League fixtures cancelled between September 9 to September 11. Potter was due to manage his first game against Fulham on September 9.
Now his first match is tomorrow, and it's a Champions League debut. Here's what Potter's schedule looks like for the next six matches.
RB Salzburg (H) - September 14
His first match in charge will not only be a maiden Chelsea game, it will be a first home game and first ever Champions League fixture too.
Unlike the scheduled match against Liverpool, which was cancelled having been due the day before The Queen's funeral on September 19, Chelsea's second group game will be played with UEFA announcing they were happy with the level of security available.
Crystal Palace (A) - October 1
Potter will have to wait until after the international break for a first league match though. Due to police limitations for football in the lead up to the funeral, London-based matches have been cancelled, including Chelsea Vs Liverpool.
No venue movement was possible due to Everton being at home on the same day in Merseyside and police are expected to be dealing with millions of people journeying to London in order to pay respect to the Queen and for the funeral.
This means Potter has an extended break to wear in his office and Cobham surroundings before a trip to Selhurst Park on the first day back from duty for his travelling players.
AC Milan (H) - October 5
After that, Potter will be relying on using his newfound European experience once again with the third Champions League game, this time against Chelsea's biggest rivals in the group, AC Milan.
It will be a reunion with Fiyako Tomori and Olivier Giroud at Stamford Bridge too, both players were let go by Thomas Tuchel last summer.
Wolves (H) - October 8
From one reunion to another, Potter's third home match in his first four fixtures will now see the return of Diego Costa to Stamford Bridge after the former Blues striker signed for Wolves this week.
AC Milan (A) - October 11
Journeying to Milan just days later, Potter will be overseeing his third European match and his first outside England with a tough trip to the historic San Siro.
Given the journey and short turnaround, this will be a precursor for the full extent of Chelsea's busy schedule and a big lesson for Potter to have early on in his Chelsea reign.
Aston Villa (A) - October 16
To round off his first six matches his first league game outside of London will be to Steven Gerrard's Aston Villa.
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