Chelsea return to domestic action this afternoon as we make the short trip across London to take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, in our first match as world champions, a week after lifting the FIFA Club World Cup trophy for the first time in our history.

That was Tuchel’s third piece of silverware in just over a year as Chelsea head coach, following the Champions League and UEFA Super Cup, in addition to reaching last season’s FA Cup final and this year’s Carabao Cup final, which takes place later this month.

The German is pleased about what that says about the strength of his side, but feels we still need more consistency over the course of a full season if we are to add a Premier League title to that growing list of honours.

‘It should give us the belief that we are a competitive team and we are a team that can also deliver in knock-out games, in cup games, in tournament games,’ said Tuchel. ‘It can bring out the very best in us which is only a good thing.

‘But we have to admit that a Premier League season does not consist of only knock-out games. It’s a different challenge to be champions of the toughest competition in Europe and needs additional qualities that we need to be relentless to implement.

‘We need to be realistic enough to admit that we opened the gap by playing too many draws. There are some things to solve in terms of consistency. So there are things to improve and we will not stop.’

However, the way we came through in Abu Dhabi, as well as those previous trophy triumphs, having to show plenty of grit and determination in overcoming stubborn opposition, leaves Tuchel pleased to know he can trust his players to produce under pressure on the big occasions.

‘The good news is there is no doubt that we are competitive, there is no doubt that we can step up under pressure, that we can deliver under pressure, that it brings out the very best in us. That’s why I think we should not start doubting or stop believing.

‘It gives us a boost hopefully because it is proof that we are capable of overcoming difficult games, we are capable of overcoming nervous scenarios, a lot of pressure. Before now it was like this in Champions League games, in cup games, and we can rely on it, which is first and foremost very good news.’

Tuchel also discussed the different tactical solutions he has used recently, switching between the back three which brought so much success last season and the back four that began as a solution to an injury crisis and has now become an option to change matches, especially when chasing a winning goal, as seen against Palmeiras in the Club World Cup final.

Although he insists that performance is more important than formation to overall success, he admits the use of a back four was very much borne of necessity and improvisation.

‘Any formation can win the title,’ he explained. ‘There are several reasons why we looked at different formations. First of all we knew that this formation relies heavily on the wing-backs. Our two main wing-backs who were major goal threats and in huge form and who gave huge support for our offensive play got long-term injuries. Second was almost the same situation at the same time with the centre-backs.

‘Then came the moment when we played Tottenham and we thought we could maybe surprise them, because they would arrive very well prepared and also with a back five. A back five against a back five can provide a bit of a stuck situation, more or less man-marked across the whole pitch, and our game felt at this moment already a bit stiff, not the most fluid.’

However, the successful way the players adapted to the new shape means it remains a useful option for Tuchel, even if he feels the difference in our attacking play between the two formations is not as big as you might expect.

‘The players did excellent and it’s very nice to have this alternative, because the offensive shape and formation does not change too much. When we attack in a back five it’s more or less a 3-2-4-1, if we play a 4-1-4-1 it’s also a four and a one in attack.

‘But the build-up is different, the personnel is a little bit different, the rules of where you protect are in our opinion a bit different. Not too much, but it gives you a bit of a different approach and it’s nice to have because we can react to opponents’ formations and maybe look for advantages within the formation.’