It was the Champions League knockout stages that brought out the very best of Thomas Tuchel and his Chelsea players last season. Supporters will hope history repeats itself this time around.
The Blues welcome Lille to Stamford Bridge this evening for their Round of 16 first leg and there is an expectation the reigning world and European champions progress to the quarter-finals without too much fuss.
That is unlikely as the Champions League is rarely straightforward. Chelsea will have to step up, will have to produce a performance better than the one that enabled them to overcome Crystal Palace 1-0 on Saturday.
"We take it match-by-match more than ever before," Tuchel said at his pre-match press conference.
"We try to always do it like this but now is the moment to be super focused on every match, not worry about the big picture because that would make us look at a lot of different pictures and different environments.
"In terms of team management, we don't think ahead at the moment. We try to bring the best group tomorrow that suits best to what we want to implement on the pitch."
Tuchel has big decisions to make across the pitch when it comes to selecting his team for tonight's encounter. But not in goal, which is a position of strength for Chelsea.
Edouard Mendy will keep his place and the Chelsea stopper knows that Lille, who he faced multiple times during his time in French football, will not be an easy side to overcome.
"When it's the Champions League and this stage of the competition, there are no easy draws," the Senegal international told the media yesterday.
"Lille won their group and I think that reflects the performances they've produced in this competition against teams like Sevilla and Salzburg. They've been performing well so it's certainly an easy draw.
"Lille are a very good team. They've struggled a bit more this season in the league but it's always difficult to be reigning champions.
"They've done very well in the Champions League and will give everything to make it hard for us and get a result. So it's up to us to be wary of that and play our best football."
Tuchel will once again have to decide whether to use his tried and trusted 3-4-2-1 system or go with a back four. The former is more likely given all of Chelsea's centre-back options are available.
The German highlighted the threat Lille pose on the counter and for that reason, Trevoh Chalobah may come in on the right of the backline. Thiago Silva would then occupy his normal central role with Antonio Rudiger on the left.
With James and Hudson-Odoi expected to miss the game due to injury, Cesar Azpilicueta is the logical option at right wing-back. The skipper returned to training on Sunday following a groin issue that kept him out of the win against Crystal Palace.
On the opposite flank, Marcos Alonso may return given he only played the final 18 minutes on Saturday's victory at Selhurst Park and is a far more natural wing-back than Malang Sarr.
N'Golo Kante is a lock to start in midfield and Chelsea will hope – as was the case last season – the Champions League knockout stage brings out the best of the Frenchman. Mateo Kovacic is likely to come back into the team too.
Hakim Ziyech is the Blues' in-form attacker and is almost guaranteed to be named on the right of a narrow front three, although Tuchel has admitted that is not a position that enables the 28-year-old to produce his very best.
There has been plenty of discussion around Romelu Lukaku after the Belgian's seven-touch outing against Palace but the Belgian may be given an opportunity to rectify that by Tuchel.
Kai Havertz wasn't at his best at the weekend but Tuchel values his off-the-ball work which and that should be enough to keep him in the side.
Predicted Chelsea side: Mendy; Chalobah, Silva, Rudiger; Azpilicueta, Kante, Kovacic, Alonso; Ziyech, Lukaku, Havertz
