‘Everyone wants to win and win and win,’ says Reece James, ‘but when you learn the most, especially with a young team, is in those difficult periods.’

Our captain is 25 now. He has experienced highs and lows during his career so far, leaving him as well placed as anybody in the squad in understanding, and dealing with, the way football can so quickly bring you back down to earth.

Chelsea were second in the table at Christmas, but a run of two wins in the next nine league games stunted our progression before last week’s emphatic win over Southampton.

‘I think we learned a lot during this spell about ourselves and where we can do things differently going forward,’ James tells us.

‘You can’t lose sight of what our targets are. ‘These spells can happen in football – they’ve happened to the biggest teams in the world – but what we must do is react well, stick to what we know, and stick together as a group. That’s what we’re doing.’

The 4-0 victory over Southampton, which came even with several players missing through injury, underlined the promise of this Chelsea team.

It was our third straight success at Stamford Bridge, too, and with another assignment in SW6 coming up on Sunday, followed by the deciding leg of our Conference League tie against Copenhagen, James is confident that win against the Saints can trigger a sustained spell of positive form.

‘We had a difficult run where things didn’t go our way despite good performances, so it was good to get the win,’ he states.

‘Now we have to focus on what’s ahead, with the Conference League restarting and the final months of the Premier League.

‘We want to keep building momentum, finish the season in the right way, and qualify for the Champions League.’

To do that, everyone is going to have to play their part. James is happy to report he is feeling good in his body, and eight appearances in the first couple of months of 2025 are evidence of that.

In one of those, at Aston Villa, the skipper played in central midfield, showcasing the breadth of his talent. Fulfilling that role proved not only his versatility but, he says, the willingness of this group to adjust to the team’s needs.

'Everyone wants the best for the team and the club, so we will all do what we need to do. Pedro [Neto], for example, isn’t playing in his position at the moment but he’s doing an amazing job to help the team and that’s the mindset.

‘I enjoy playing anywhere on the pitch, no matter what position that is. Of course, it takes a little bit of time to get used to that role again, but I’ll do whatever is needed to help the team.’

Dealing with difficulty and adapting in adversity: James knows that is the blueprint for the Blues to ensure this season finishes successfully.