It reflects how significant a player Mateo Kovacic has become for Thomas Tuchel this season that his dynamic presence was greatly missed at points during the game at Turf Moor.
Sure, you can look at the full-time score and assess that the Croatian's absence from the starting lineup was not that detrimental, and you would be correct. But given the lack of energy from the centre of the park in the first half, Kovacic's marauding runs forward have become a part of Chelsea's most encouraging play in recent weeks.
At the end of last season, Kovacic was a late substitute in the Champions League final that could have led to his swansong in a Chelsea shirt.
