Thirteen months ago it looked like Marcos Alonso's Chelsea career was limping towards an unhappy conclusion.
The wing back had been banished by Frank Lampard after a falling out following the draw away to West Bromwich Albion in September 2020, when the head coach substituted him at half time and then became furious that he had apparently spent the second period on the team bus.
Come the transfer window there was clear interest from clubs at home and abroad. Except Lampard was sacked before Alonso could be sold and that sparked a remarkable turn in personal and club fortunes.
The 31-year-old was reintegrated into the side when Thomas Tuchel took over, scoring against Burnley in his first game back before starring in a win over Tottenham Hotspur.
And while opportunities at the beginning of this season were limited by Ben Chilwell's good form, there have been plenty since the England international’s knee injury and he now would like to extend his stay beyond the summer of 2023.
In an open interview at the team’s hotel in Abu Dhabi ahead of tomorrow’s Club World Cup final against Palmeiras, Alonso provided his version of events from the incident that led to him being jettisoned from the then head coach’s plans.
"I watched the game upstairs and with five minutes to go they [West Brom security] told me I cannot be here so I went downstairs to the changing room," he said. "Then when the referee blew the whistle I went to the coach before the team got back.
"It was not with any bad intention that I wanted to leave but I had a shower at half-time already, I had a shower upstairs and then I just went. I was not happy, of course, with how the game went and everything but it was not any intention to do that.
"I spoke to my team-mates straight after. If someone felt offended or something, everyone was OK. You created the story, but it was nothing like this."
Lampard, who had refused to speak about the incident afterwards, still cut him off and it is hard not to be struck how effusively Alonso spoke of Tuchel’s influence and why "it's important to have a manager that trusts you and plays you."
Of Lampard's reaction, he added: "The manager didn't take it well but I explained everything that happened. He thought I left before the end of the game but I told him no. There were some medical staff in the changing room who can provide the right information. It's gone [in the past] of course."
There had been inquiries from other clubs but something kept telling him to stick it out, that another opportunity to prove himself would arrive.
"I have always had interest from other clubs but to be honest it was never my intention to leave," he said. "I wanted to fight for my position. I know what I can give to the team and until the club tells me something else then that will always be my target."
The persistence has paid off handsomely, with a Champions League medal plus the prospect of becoming a world champion and winning the only domestic trophy to have eluded him, the Carabao Cup, in the next fortnight.
"Yes, definitely," he said when asked if he feels vindicated. "I always had that interest from other clubs but I am happy to be here to achieve these kinds of trophies. I am looking forward to Saturday to try to make history and continue making the fans happy and ourselves also."
Few players can match that trophy haul, yet if Alonso has his way there will be several more years to add to the collection
"Why not?" he said of signing another contract. "For me I still have another year-and-a-half on my contract. I’m not thinking further than Saturday at the moment. It’s a question where maybe I don’t know the answer and it doesn’t just depend on what I want. But as I said before, I will always try to give 100% and always focus on the next game. I am very happy here so why not?"
