When it comes to preseason friendlies, the actual scoreline is rather irrelevant. Sure, victory is always the most preferable outcome and being able to perpetuate that winning habit is a valuable quality. Nevertheless, no matter how much television commentators and event promoters want to hype the occasion, these matches are essentially glorified training exercises that happen to take place in exotic locations in front of tens of thousands of local spectators.
For this reason, it is impossible to get too excited about Saturday's 3-0 win over Arsenal or be remotely despondent about Tuesday's 3-2 defeat to Bayern Munich. Beating Arsenal in any context is always enjoyable yet no right-minded supporter would see Saturday's result as preferable to getting three points against Burnley on the opening day of the forthcoming Premier League season.
More pertinent is the manner of the performances, both individually and collectively. These matches are a time to nurture on-field relationships, develop patterns of play and to witness the positives and negatives when reacting to different match situations.
It is often said that more is learned in adversity than in triumph and this definitely rings true when looking at the first two matches of Chelsea's tour of the Far East. The manner in which Bayern opened Chelsea time and time again on Tuesday was certainly more valuable to Antonio Conte than seeing his side create chance upon chance against a surprisingly lethargic Arsenal side.
After a promising opening to the game, the German champions found the way to combat the Blues by counter-attacking quickly into the space between the midfield and defence. Once again, it showed the worrying frailty of fielding a midfield axis of N'Golo Kante and Cesc Fabregas against top quality opposition. All three goals conceded came via this route as Bayern players ran unopposed into the vacant area with even the dynamic Kante unable to cover enough ground to compensate for his less fleet-footed midfield partner.
This was always a concern last season as well which is why Fabregas tended only to start matches against teams that Chelsea were expected to dominate. Even when the more defensively-minded Nemanja Matic lined up next to Kante, the midfield two as a unit was exposed on occasion by well-drilled and highly-skilled opponents. Tottenham overpowered them in their 2-0 win in January while Arsenal bypassed them with clever passing and movement in the FA Cup final. It is an area that Antonio Conte will need to address in certain matches, possibly by withdrawing one of the three forwards and adding another body in the middle of the pitch.
The situation against Bayern was not helped by both wing-backs being caught high up the field. Much is asked of Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso, as they are expected to patrol the entire length of the pitch though their attacking instincts were used against them when Chelsea lost possession. This, however, is simply a case of getting back into the swing of things rather than anything systemic, something proved by the greater balance showed by both of them after half-time.
As well seeing how various combinations might be working, these occasions also allow individual players to catch the eye, not least those on the periphery or those that have just returned from loan. Having seen how Victor Moses' displays last summer propelled him into Conte's plans for the season, motivation for those in similar positions must be especially high.
Jeremie Boga is one of those to have seen his stock rise over the past two games, taking advantage of Pedro Rodriguez's sickening clash with Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina that left him concussed and with broken bones in his face. The barrel-chested youngster has not looked out of place against illustrious opponents and has not been shy to showcase his dizzying skills.
Andreas Christensen might have been in the heart of the back three while three goals were shipped to Bayern though none of those could really be attributed to any fault of his. In fact, he looked assured filling the space usually occupied by David Luiz, showing an admirable intelligence of when to step forward to make a challenge or when to hold his position and clean up behind his fellow centre-backs.
Rather than sulk, Michy Batshuayi has reacted well to the £58 million acquisition of Alvaro Morata by notching three goals and an assist across the two games. Despite clearly being Conte's second-choice striker, the Belgian's confidence does not appear to have wavered, as he has continues to shoot on sight.
Chelsea's next preseason outing is against Inter Milan this Saturday before they face Arsenal once more in traditional curtain raiser to the English season, the FA Community Shield. By the end of that match, Chelsea's prospects of being able to start the defence of their title on the front foot should be much clearer. Until then there is still plenty of work to be done on the training ground.