Chelsea's near disastrous pre-season came to an end against Italian side Fiorentina and once again results in defeat.
A win-less, in 90 minutes run of five matches is unprecedented in the modern Chelsea, and no amount of spin can mask the fact the Blues go into Saturday's Premier League open enter, unsure of what level of performance will come from the plays.
This is certainly a good time to be playing Chelsea.
This fixture - part of the ill-fated two-year loan deal which saw Mohamed Salah go on loan to Fiorentina with Juan Cuadrado, another ill-fated signing coming to the Bridge - was not what Jose Mourinho needed days before Swansea City come to town.
The defeat in the Community a Shield against Arsenal on Sunday meant thaT Mourinho needed to protect key players this week. So the introduction of a second-string side against the Serie A side did Little to enthuse the 31,000 crowd who packed Stamford Bridge knowing getting home due to the Tube strike would be fraught with difficulty.
So what positive would Mourinho take from the match - nothing probably.
The Blues need to be very active in the transfer market in the next couple of weeks.
While the pursuit of Everton's John Stones is laudable and a £35million offer about to be handed to the Toffeemen, it's up front where the real problem lies.
Last season Mourinho magnificently marshalled Diego Costa through the season while maximising the sporadic potency of Didier Drogba and Loic Remy.
Adding Radamel Falcao, on loan from Monaco, is a gamble Mourinho has taken. It's hoped he can turn the once prolific hit man, who failed miserably at Manchester United last season into a workable alternative to the hamstrung injury-plagued Costa.
Defeats to New York Red Bulls, draws against Paris St-Germain, Barcelona and successive defeats to Arsenal and Fiorentina does not indicate the Blues are anywhere near the high level of last August where they blitzed opposition, while admittedly, conceding goals as well.
Charlie Austin, the QPR striker is someone the Blues could do with. But that would relegate Falcao and Remy, both key international players to also-fans.
Mourinho's fabled man-management skills would be tested to the hilt with those four at the Bridge.
But it's what's needed - otherwise the league season could be over by November for the defending champions.