By way of example, the BBC asked 33 of their TV and radio pundits to pick their top four. Every single one had Chelsea in there. This time last year, in contrast, just six of the 30 experts polled by the BBC had the Blues finishing fourth or higher.

It is a sentiment which has been expressed by a number of pundits in the media.

‘For me, this shows how good the team were last season,’ Maresca pointed out when asked about raised expectations.

‘When I joined the club one year ago, the noise was completely different compared to now, for many reasons.

‘Now, personally, I don’t like to look ahead two, three, four months,’ the head coach added. ‘That doesn’t exist in football. I like to be focused on the game against Crystal Palace, and then in terms of target, my personal target for the team is to improve every day. Then we see what happens.’

Maresca knows the collective work put in at Cobham paid dividends last season, and he is understandably proud of what his team achieved by the end of it. Two pieces of silverware and a Champions League finish was an excellent return.

That being said, he is no intention of letting the Blues drop our standards as we go in search of success once again.

‘We are a better team for sure compared to one year ago, and the reason why is because we have worked together every day for one season,' he explained.

‘What the club and team achieved in the first season was top, fantastic. Finishing in the Champions League, winning the Conference League, the European competition we were in, and winning the Club World Cup. It was quite difficult to achieve more than this.

‘But now is a new season, so let’s see.’

Digital tickets have been introduced for games at Stamford Bridge this season and you can find more information here. Supporters who need help in the build-up to today's game can access various help points around Stamford Bridge. See the map below.