Enzo Maresca held an emergency team meeting just moments before Chelsea faced Sunderland. The manager had extensively analysed the Black Cats in preparation for the showdown at Stamford Bridge, scrutinising each of their nine league and cup matches this term.

However, his plans were thrown into disarray when Regis Le Bris handed in his team sheet. Despite Sunderland having consistently used a back four in all their previous matches, they adopted a more defensive stance against Chelsea, deploying five defenders to guard Robin Roefs' goal.

Upon the release of the team news at 1.45pm, Maresca, who was in his coaches' office – which doubles as a debriefing room alongside the Chelsea executives after home games – immediately called a team meeting. Here, he outlined his game plan and issued new directives.

They had spent the week gearing up for a match against two full-backs and centre-halves each. However, it ultimately proved fruitless. Despite the hosts taking an early lead four minutes into the game through Alejandro Garnacho, Wilson Isidor...