Chelsea's return to the UEFA Champions League after a two-year absence felt well-timed, spending their time away rebuilding and checking off a few important items on the list of wannabe title contenders. A youth-focused squad led by a star talisman, in this case Cole Palmer ? Check. Notable silverware in the form of the UEFA Conference League and the Club World Cup? Check again. It felt like the perfect foundation for a young team eager to introduce themselves in the most competitive tournament they have played in – until it all went wrong in a 3-1 loss at Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Enzo Maresca's version of the Blues did not leave an impressive first impression in the Champions League, and there is an argument to be made that the schedule did them no favors. Upcoming games against

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