Maresca's first campaign at the helm was one of progress and silverware. We secured a top-four finish in the Premier League, guaranteeing a return to the Champions League in the process, and then went on to win the Conference League.

The Club World Cup followed in the summer, and the Blues navigated a way through to the final, where we dismantled Paris Saint-Germain in New Jersey to be crowned world champions.

With a shortened pre-season as a result of our triumph Stateside, the Blues have not had it all our own way in the opening weeks of the new campaign. Yet we are just two points off second in the Premier League and advanced through to the Carabao Cup fourth round in midweek.

There is more to come from Maresca's side. He knows it, too. It's why he is hugely enthusiastic about the work being undertaken on the training pitches at Cobham, which aims to improve individuals as well as the team.

‘From my point of view, I’m so excited and so happy to be with this team and this squad after a good season,’ Maresca explained ahead of the visit of Brighton and Hove Albion to Stamford Bridge.

‘To think about how we can improve players or improve the team, for me, it’s so exciting, and it’s why I arrive very early and leave very late.

'I am always thinking about how I can help this player, how I can improve this player, because if we are able to improve players, we can improve the team.’

After defeats to Bayern Munich and Manchester United, the Blues showcased their character in midweek to fight back from a goal down against a physical and direct Lincoln City side.

Maresca is hopeful that momentum from that victory will be carried into tomorrow's game against Brighton, and the fixtures ahead, as we host Benfica in the Champions League and then welcome Premier League champions Liverpool to Stamford Bridge next week.

The Chelsea head coach said: '‘The last week’s results haven’t been the best for us, but I think we have started quite well in the Premier League.

‘In the first four games, we have taken eight points, and we could’ve had 10 if we were able to avoid the Brentford goal in additional time. Then the Manchester United game, going down to 10 players after five minutes, is difficult. But overall, I feel we are growing.

‘Even for me, the Lincoln game was a very tricky one, and for most of the players it was the first time that they had played a League One side – it is completely different football. In the future, we will face that kind of football again, and we will be better because we will know how to deal with it.

'I have the feeling that we are improving and we continue to go in the right direction.’