“Maybe we are underdogs, but it’s one game and we’re confident,” said a bullish Mateo Kovacic ahead of Saturday night’s showdown in Porto when dark blue faces light blue in the Champions League final.

Losing to Aston Villa on the last day of the league season was poor preparation, compared to City thrashing Everton, but a fourth-place finish means Chelsea are still at Europe’s top table.

Tom Tuchel gave his boys a day off while he worked on his tactics to lift Big Ears, as the European trophy is nicknamed.

What has TT achieved in four months? “We’re more confident, more solid at the back,” said Kovacic.

Though Chelsea have beaten Pep Guardiola’s City team this year, this weekend’s match is different.

“We hate to lose, whether it’s a match that matters, or a defeat that doesn’t change anything,” said Tuchel at his pre-match presser. “Now we need to settle and fully focus.”

Tuchel hopes Eddy Mendy will be between the sticks, if he passes a late fitness test on Friday.

Meanwhile the manager has been reflecting on a season which has, so far, ended with a whimper – three defeats in four games. “It’s not easy to get a grip on those losses,” he said. “Sometimes we are unlucky, but I don’t like to stress that too much.”

Perhaps Tuchel needs to fill the team bus with four-leaf clover, horseshoes and rabbits’ feet if the players are to triumph.