The Champions League Round of 16 was the ideal stage for Ben Chilwell to make his long-anticipated return to the Chelsea starting XI – it was also fitting given the hamstring injury suffered by the full-back in November occurred in the final group game of the competition.
Chilwell spent three months on the sidelines after being helped off against Dinamo Zagreb. He missed his chance to represent England at World Cup and could only watch on as Chelsea's form stuttered under Graham Potter. He was also unable to provide a genuine alternative to Marc Cucurella, whose form has deteriorated since the campaign restarted in December.
It's important to remember that Chilwell wasn't 100% match-fit at Signal Iduna Park against Borussia Dortmund. He had been given 10 minutes at home to Fulham. A little more away at West Ham United. But the 26-year-old's European experience was needed on an important night for Chelsea.
