The fact that left-back Ben Chilwell had played one of his better games for the Blues, in the midweek driving rain against Zagreb, made it even tougher to take when he pulled up deep into stoppage time with a hamstring injury.

He’ll now miss the World Cup, having devoted his entire comeback campaign from a serious knee injury last year to making it out to Qatar.

It’s a bitter blow for Chilwell, and Chelsea, as Graham Potter sees both his right and left-sided scurriers unable to travel to the Middle East, with Reece James similarly crocked.

It all overshadowed a routine (though rather laboured) display in the 2-1 dead-rubber win in the Champions League against Dinamo Zagreb, whose supporters did them proud with a remarkable non-stop synchronised, noisy display of top-grade cheerleading.

Dinamo nicked the lead after seven minutes as Chelsea went to sleep and failed to defend a simple cross from the right, met effortlessly by the head of the unchallenged centre forward Bruno Petkovic.

The Blues levelled 11 minutes later with a well-worked goal – Kai Havertz backheeling into the path of Raheem Sterling, who slotted neatly home.

There was a cracking winner from debutant Denis Zakaria, who seems an accomplished midfielder, paired well with Jorginho. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who came on as a late sub for Zakaria after 70 minutes, will be concerned that he has such promising competition for his place.

Zakaria fired home from close to the edge of the area on 31 minutes – the pace of the ball beating defenders and keeper Dom Livakovic.

A spooky moon at the Bridge on the visit of Zagreb

And there the scoring ended, though Chelsea should have pressed home their superiority and added another goal or two to dispel fans’ nerves that they were going to witness a late leveller.

Potter was pleased with the performance, but upset about Chilwell’s injury.

Next up for the Blues, Sunday lunchtime’s rail-strike clash against Arsenal at the Bridge. That will be altogether tougher than this European victory.