In the build-up, everything went beautifully. Liam Rosenior, Chelsea’s new coach, stared out from the front cover of the programme for this Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Arsenal, looking thoughtful and studious and confident in a smart jacket and a casual shirt on the occasion of his first match in charge at Stamford Bridge.
If body language is important, then Rosenior struck all the right notes. As his players walked back to the tunnel after their pre-match warm-up, Rosenior was waiting for them on the touchline, shaking hands with every one of the squad as they passed him, and his backroom staff, too.