Chelsea conclude pre-season with a 1-0 loss at Stamford Bridge as the title defence starts in three days’ time.
The Blues, who cantered to the title last season, may have much work to do if they are to retain the crown, especially given the external strengthening of rival teams.
Whilst that you cannot control, the internal standing still — which we all know in this world means to go backwards — looks to not be paying off, if this pre-season is any evidence to go by.
Each and every Blues’ player was given an individual welcome pre-match but that would be all the entertaining for the fans.
Rodriguez’s goal in the first half would prove to be the decisive one, in a match where Falcao made his first Chelsea start.
It means Chelsea’s 2015/16 pre-season record stands at two draws and three losses, with the small consolation of two penalty shoot-out wins, but ultimately two pre-season competitions lost.