For Chelsea, the Champions League was once seen as the holy grail. The one trophy that appeared unattainable for almost the entire first decade of Roman Abramovich's ownership.
Even with the club's outstanding domestic glory in the mid to late noughties, the trophy with the big ears was always painfully out of reach. For a generation of beloved Chelsea players, it became their one last major hurdle, culminating in the cinematic finale that was the 2012 triumph in Munich.
A decade later, that desperation for European glory has dwindled. Not only because of the 2012 success but also because of Thomas Tuchel's incredible feat in leading the club to a second Champions League crown in 2021.
Now the holy grail Tuchel's men are chasing is their first Premier League title since 2017 under Antonio Conte.
That wait is likely to extend to over five years with Manchester City now sitting pretty at the top of the table, 10 points ahead of the European champions after the Blues' dismal run of results over the festive period.
This has only heightened the Chelsea fanbase's desire to see their side reach the summit of English football again, particularly under Tuchel who has already proven his elite coaching acumen since arriving at Stamford Bridge.
On the one-year anniversary of his appointment, we give a three-step plan for Tuchel to take Chelsea back to the top of the Premier League.
Making necessary cuts
Even with the glory of Porto in May 2021, there's still a feeling among supporters that the current squad needs a shake-up and upgrades are needed in a number of positions.
As Matt Law from The Telegraph pointed out, Tuchel's squad has been assembled under six different coaches.
For Tuchel to fully imprint his ideas on west London and to mould the squad to his liking, senior players whose best days are behind them, or players who have proven themselves incapable of reaching the level the German currently requires, should be sold.
Not all of those decisions are easy. Some require emotional goodbyes. Pep Guardiola had to dispense of loved title-winning players at City to transform his squad into what you see today.
Better recruitment
For too long expensive signings have provided more questions than answers.
'How do we get the best out of [INSERT NAME HERE?]' has been a tediously repetitive question posed by Chelsea fans.
As Man City and Liverpool have shown, there needs to be more clarity in recruitment that facilitates the system. Why are we buying this player? Do his attributes lend themselves to the current boss and the Premier League?
Tuchel is a coach who thrives on flexibility, comfort on the ball and high energy. Those are the players Chelsea should be searching for rather than always going for the flavour of the month or jumping at an opportunity.
Balance of power shifting
For too long at Chelsea, players have been ingrained into a culture that almost sees the current head coach as an irrelevancy.
Even recently it has emerged that high-profile names are under the assumption they will outlast Tuchel, so why push for an exit? This not only creates a sense of complacency but also a self-fulfilling prophecy under Abramovich.
If players know that the coach will be the first one out of the door after a run of five defeats, why panic?
This is not to say Tuchel needs to be a ruthless, uncaring dictator. It's quite clear he is a modern coach who appreciates that simply shouting at players every week has little impact anymore.
It is more about what those above him indicate with their actions.
Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have become the constants at their respective clubs - if you do not meet their demands you will be replaced.
Chelsea supporters are backing Tuchel's vision and it's time the club followed suit.
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