You're never too far away from a crisis, especially at Chelsea. A couple of freak results, a string of bad matches, a managerial change with some underperforming players and the odd injury in there too is the perfect storm. Just ask Graham Potter.
As a season can swing quickly one way it can come back the other just as fast. The crisis can be solved and repaired. You're never as far away from safety, as it may seem. Football is overly emotional and catastrophising is only natural. When you go from being European champions to 10th in the league within 18-months it's understandable too.
These things aren't permanent though and the very sight of small change can flip the atmosphere at a club on it's head. Graham Potter spoke about as much ahead of Chelsea's trip to Liverpool on Saturday.
READ MORE : Graham Potter provides two crucial Chelsea injury updates ahead of Liverpool
"There is a lot of things to look forward to in terms of the players that are available for us after injury, the players that we’ve signed, they understanding we have as a group has grown because of the time we’ve had." he said. "It’s exciting, the players we have. When players are back [from injury] there is a good and exciting squad of players.”
"We’ve had different challenges as I reflect back on my time here and the one going forward is to integrate new players into the group and create a feeling of togetherness. We’ve got a lot of exciting things coming up so we need to be ready.”
For a club with one win in five and hardly the epitome of stability and positivity, Potter is still seeing the next stage. The crisis feeling can quickly change with returning players and new signings. Over the space of less than nine months the entire starting XI could be different.
Only one player started against Crystal Palace that was also starting in the first game under Todd Boehly's ownership, for example. In 12 months the Blues will likely look very different once more. In essence, add in a few returning players from injury and several new signings and things are liable to changing.
For this reason it was a pleasant pre-match surprise for fans to see some of their stars back in action ahead of the trip to Merseyside. In the latest set of training pictures this is what was spotted.
More Mudryk
For Chelsea the thought of having a speedy winger once more is incredibly exciting. They have lacked a genuine wide man since the departure of Willian and Pedro, both of those stalwarts were past their best and lacked the pace and edge to excite.
Eden Hazard is the last genuine speedy dribbler the club have possessed, Timo Werner was fast but often only in straight lines. Mykhailo Mudryk's signing is a risk but it also comes with high reward for a 22-year-old blessed with blistering pace and two-footedness.
If he makes his debut at Anfield it would be up against Trent Alexander-Arnold and the winger may well be licking his lips at the prospect of that. In the photos he is seen shooting, sprinting and continuing to gel with his new teammates, though Potter was coy on his role in the game.
James and Chilwell return
This may well have been the best part of the news on Friday. The key to cutting the crisis short is the return of Chelsea's two best full-backs, wing-backs and, up to this point, attackers.
Reece James and Ben Chilwell missing has plagued Chelsea for the past two seasons and has seen them struggle. If the pair were available more often then the word crisis may not have been used at all. Potter's job would be publicly more secure.
The Blues have only won two of 11 games James hasn't played this season, losing six. He is the best and most important player. It's still too soon to see him back on the field but the thought of his return is enough to get fans purring once more.
The sight of him, Chilwell and Joao Felix all lining up together is one that will get the Blues through to the day it finally becomes reality in a competitive match.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek was also back to physical training after being on the bench against Palace.
READ NEXT:
Graham Potter makes claim on Mykhailo Mudryk debut versus Liverpool amid Noni Madueke transfer
Chelsea target Noni Madueke explained Man Utd transfer rejection despite Cristiano Ronaldo dream
Why Graham Potter faces a big Champions League dilemma as Chelsea continue January spending
Find the footballs on the Football.London website to win cash prize, vouchers and TV worth £3,000
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from Stamford Bridge
