The Conference League is supposed to be where Chelsea live a little. This is a long way below Europe’s elite and fans expect their team to overwhelm opponents who operate in much smaller financial circles. They are waiting for Enzo Maresca to prove that his positional play can dazzle.

This was another strange Stamford Bridge occasion. The mood was muted, even though Chelsea advanced to the last eight by beating FC Copenhagen 3-1 on aggregate. A fourth consecutive win in all competitions was not without its complications and that meant the doubts around Maresca are not going away before Sunday’s trip to Arsenal.