Chelsea's next game could be exactly where their fortunes finally turn. After a torrid run of results, including a poor 3-0 defeat to Brentford, Chelsea head into the international break under pressure, with Xabi Alonso's tactics and the team's leaky defence facing fresh scrutiny.
Yet if you look closer at Chelsea's underlying performances, returning personnel, and a kinder run of Premier League fixtures suggests the current slump won't last much longer. A climb up the table is much needed as they look to match the ambitions of returning to the Champions League.
Here are four reasons why a dramatic Chelsea improvement could be coming sooner than fans think, and why the club's next match may prove the turning point everyone's been waiting for.
Debuts
Marco Palestra could be set for his debut, with reports suggesting he is close to returning to full training and could come into the starting XI at full-back for the Bournemouth game.
The Italian defender would add another dimension to the side and is likely to slot in at right-back, with Pep Chavarría expected to retain his place on the left.
For Emanuel Emegha, however, a debut appears less likely. Danny Welbeck is expected to keep his place up front if João Pedro is unable to recover from injury in time.
New formation?
Switching to a back four could make a massive difference, particularly for players who are struggling to adapt to the current system. Returning to a more familiar shape could give them greater comfort, clarity and confidence in their roles.
It would also stop players from constantly trying to plug the gaps with square pegs simply to make a system work, one that has shown weaknesses in every Premier League game so far.
Xabi is not one to be rigid and flexible, so he could experiment with the back four and see whether it provides a better balance between attack and defence.
Rest
Despite still being on the training ground, the two-week international break should provide something of a rest for the Chelsea players not involved with their national teams. Their workload is unlikely to match the intensity of Premier League matches.
The hard work on the training ground will still count for plenty, though, and should hopefully give Chelsea the opportunity to address the balance between attack and defence.
Returning injured players
Moises Caicedo, Reece James, Marco Palestra and Joao Pedro were all on the treatment table ahead of the next game, with hopes that all four will return in time to face Bournemouth on October 10.
The break should give those players valuable time to recover, while also allowing Chelsea to return with a renewed focus and a different level of performance.
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