This time last year the jury was very in much out on Mateo Kovacic's time at Stamford Bridge.
The Croatian, although showing glimpses of his potential and being well regarded for his aesthetically pleasing technique, was questioned over his actual impact on the team.
Coming into his peak years and with the desire to see fresh legs injected into the squad, Kovacic's place felt less secure than that of N'Golo Kante and Jorginho, who both started the Champions League final.
