Juls and Gab discuss the impact of the sanctions on Roman Abramovich. It was 1:44. This performance wouldn't feature in an accompanying brochure, but it gave potential new owners a reminder of the winning machine they are lining up to buy. After Burak Yilmaz converted a 38th-minute penalty, the Blues were not particularly impressive at Stade Pierre Mauroy and appeared set for a difficult evening when Christian Pulisic scored just before the break. The draw will take place on Friday, hours before the deadline set by Raine Group for interested parties to table their formal offers to buy the world and European champion, valued by owner Roman Abramovich at 3 billion dollars. They are still buying a team competing in Europe because of the sort of display that shows how good they are, even though they only played for 90 minutes. - O'Hanlon: How Chelsea's squad might look post-Abramovich
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It has not been easy. The last visit to this ground by the Blues was in October of last year, a 2-1 win, but it was overshadowed by a row over pictures showing Ross Barkley eating a kebab and chips and arguing with a taxi driver.
Catering and travel are still issues on the agenda but with much greater importance given the restrictions imposed upon them as part of the licence granted by the UK government to continue operating in the wake of Abramovich being sanctioned for alleged links to Russia president Vladimir Putin.
The club's travel plans for Lille were finalized prior to last Thursday's government intervention, but Thomas Tuchel barely took his seat in his post-match press conference before being presented with the latest difficulty.
Tuchel replied "Thanks for ruining my evening" moments after celebrating with the travelling support housed in the top tier of the goal they were attacking in the second half, a moment of unity he or they may experience for some time.
In his role as part-coach, part ambassador, the German continues to navigate a difficult path.
It is hard to imagine a coach negotiating this spell better than Tuchel, given results have remained positive since the day before the Carabao Cup Final, but it is also possible that the new owners want to install their own head coach.
The Blues lost that game by the best of margins in a penalty shoot out, but have since beaten many other teams, including Lille, in a run which strikes the heart of the culture fostered at the club over many years.
We are all competitors and I have always experienced a very competitive spirit when I was a part of the family.
It's clear what it demands from every employee and player: play your role, play to the limit, live up to it and take your responsibility.
It's normal to do it on a daily basis and that's what it's about, and that sharpens your mentality and brings out the best in you. It is possible that we can stay focused because this mentality has been in place for many years.
It plays a big part in why we can produce results when things are uncertain and unstable around us.
They were even more surprise winners of the competition in 2012 when they changed managers halfway through the season, and they beat Manchester City in last season's final.
They kept winning. The source of Abramovich's wealth has generated a debate about the purity of the success of the club in the last two decades, but nobody can deny the efficiency with which they have delivered silverware.
There was a degree of passivity here. The unusual step of adopting a 3-5-2 system to accommodate an additional central player was taken by Tuchel to shore up central areas and help stifle Lille.
It seemed only to contribute to a pedestrian display in which they barely threatened before Jorginho threaded a pass for Pulisic.
The away fans sang "champions of Europe, we know what we are", for the first time all night, as the final whistle blew.
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