THOMAS TUCHEL'S final act as Chelsea manager could turn out to be an absolute masterstroke.
The axed Chelsea boss signed his former player from Borussia Dortmund, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, just days before owner Todd Boehly gave him the boot.
Eyebrows were raised when the Blues signed the 33-year-old, and even more questions asked when Tuchel was sacked soon after.
But in a game against AC Milan with so much resting on it, Aubameyang showed the killer instinct all of the best strikers have to suggest he could be a huge player for Graham Potter.
Going into the clash against Italian champions, nothing less than three points would do.
Chelsea had just one point to show from their opening two Champions League games, and defeat tonight would make qualifying for the knockouts a near impossible task.
The Blues have far from sparkled under Potter since the ex-Brighton boss was brought in to replace Tuchel.
Tonight though things appeared to come together.
Aubameyang opened his Blues account at the weekend, and made it two in two games with his close-range finish in this evening's 3-0 win.
It wasn't only his goal though that Potter will leave Potter cooing.
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Tuchel brought the former Arsenal skipper in for his overall play as well as his finishing, signs of which were on display tonight.
Now Aubameyang has had a few weeks to settle in, it's clear he is getting to know his team-mates better.
The 33-year-old was always eager to keep play moving by playing the ball on to Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling with his first touch.
He showed that killer instinct that Chelsea have been missing by being in the right place at the right time to volley home from a Reece James cross.
The striker position has plagued the Blues for so long, but maybe Aubameyang is finally the man to end that curse.
Next up for the Blues is the return fixture against AC Milan, the most difficult game of the group stages.
A win there and Potter's side will have one foot in the last-16.
And now the Blues have someone in Aubameyang to get on the end of James' incredible deliveries, Potter will be confident of doing exactly that.
He just might have his predecessor, Tuchel, to thank for it.
