Our head coach had been absent since testing positive for Covid, but was able to fly out to the United Arab Emirates on Friday, having been cleared to travel after following protocol and providing a negative test result.

Tuchel was unable to travel with the squad to the UAE at the weekend or attend our Club World Cup semi-final win over Al Hilal and Saturday’s FA Cup victory against Plymouth in the FA Cup, although he remained in constant communication with his coaching staff throughout those matches and the preparations.

However, he has now joined his players and staff, arriving at Chelsea’s Abu Dhabi base in the evening local time, shortly after the squad’s last training session before tomorrow’s Club World Cup final against Brazilian side Palmeiras.

That means he can take his seat in the dug-out at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium as we attempt to bring the trophy back to SW6 for the first time.