After an intense Sunday afternoon facing off with Antonio Conte and being left frustrated with Anthony Taylor's refereeing, Thomas Tuchel could be forgiven from wanting some time away from football. The football season is relentless in its demands however, no less so than in the summer transfer window.
The German coach was in the stands of the Kingsmeadow Stadium on Monday night to watch Chelsea's development side take on Fulham in Premier League 2 for their first home game under Mark Robinson. The under-21s boss guided his team to a 7-1 victory away to Wolves on the opening day.
Tuchel was treated to seeing the talents of Bashir Humphreys, Omari Hutchinson and Ben Elliott against the Cottagers but it was perhaps little surprise that he was in attendance with Ben Chilwell, Ethan Ampadu, Trevoh Chalobah and Carney Chukwuemeka in the starting XI.
READ MORE: What Chilwell shouted to Ampadu as Thomas Tuchel watched Chelsea youngsters fall to Fulham loss
The quartet were added to the development side to earn some vital playing time to increase their match fitness with Chilwell, Ampadu and Chalobah all featuring for 90 minutes. Despite the first team influence, the Blues slumped to a 3-0 defeat with Chelsea perhaps lacking the fluency of a team that plays regularly together.
The development team match took a different purpose on Monday night however. With a flurry of academy stars in the stands watching on, the priority became ensuring the first team squad was primed for what is set to be a rigorous season.
The intention to build the match readiness of Chilwell is understandable following the concerns Tuchel has raised of the England international following his return from injury. The wing-back started against Everton in the Premier League but Marc Cucurella was preferred to take on Spurs, just over a week after joining the club.
Chalobah has been a regular part of Chelsea squads for the last 12 months but has not featured in the Blues' opening two games so was due minutes, while £20 million signing Chukwuemeka played his first minutes after a disrupted pre-season ahead of his move. Ethan Ampadu was not handed a squad number by the club ahead of the season but was afforded the opportunity to play in the centre of defence.
The Wales international is yet to feature in a squad of Tuchel's since the season started but his future appears fluid despite a loan interest emerging in the 21-year-old. His Chelsea future is by no means guaranteed but the club are clearly still in a position where they believe they can benefit from Ampadu being prepared to play.
Callum Hudson-Odoi was also expected to be among their number after confirmation from the club on Monday. Loan interest is believed to have escalated in the winger which saw his absence on the evening. No senior player was chosen to replace him.
Premier League 2 rules allow clubs to play five "over-age" outfield players. The Blues fielded three against the Cottagers making it obvious that was some intention in the decision. Other players who have been part of the first team squad but who have not been invovled so far this season are Emerson Palmieri, Billy Gilmour, Ross Barkley, Kenedy, Michy Batshuayi.
That they weren't considered for playing time like their teammates suggests that their future lies away from the club, or at the very least not among Tuchel's first team plans. Emerson was handed a first team squad number but was not considered worth a place on Mondy, with a £13 million bid from West Ham in place.
Billy Gilmour has been without a place among the under-21 ranks, having spent time in the USA as part of the team after Tuchel decided the Scotland international would not feature for the first team during the pre-season tour. Barkley and Kenedy were afforded places in the Chelsea squad but do not appear set to do so this term and are not being prepared in case they are required.
The move appears to reflect Hakim Ziyech's uncertain position to, with the Moroccan making it into both of the Blues' squad this season without playing a minute. The winger has been interested in a move to AC Milan who appear to have made little progress since intial discussions with the Blues.
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