It was a surprise to many when Hakim Ziyech was selected to face Fulham in the immediate aftermath of the collapse of his loan move to PSG. The Morocco international was placed straight into the starting XI and found himself placed relatively high among Graham Potter's options in the wide positions.
While Ziyech's contract runs until 2025 January was the second time in as many transfer windows that he had hoped to depart the club, and while he has proved useful on occasion throughout both Potter's and Thomas Tuchel's tenures, he has not always been the most natural fit.
The former Ajax star has certainly had some purple patches during his time in Blue and produced moments of brilliance such as against Tottenham last season, but while Chelsea's form has struggled in 2022/23, he has also been unable to provide much in the way of goal contributions. March has seen the 30-year-old not play minute for Chelsea as he only made the bench three times and he did not make the squad at all against Everton.
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That appears to have coincided with Potter's decision to move to a back three and Chelsea's slight upturn in form. It is not a formation that Ziyech is unfamiliar with given Tuchel's propensity to make use of the system during his time at Stamford Bridge, but it is one in which Ziyech has not always flourished.
The German coach was always clear about where Ziyech was best suited, and even explained as much following that impressive outing against Spurs in 2022.
Tuchel said: “It was one of [Ziyech’s] best matches today because he was very reliable. It was also maybe his best position to be on the wing. We had the wide position on the right wing, that position does not normally exist in that particular manner when we play 3-4-3, it is more of a wingback.
“Maybe we can think about doing this. It was good because it gave him the opportunity to take risks where it was possible to take risks. He was very reliable on the ball in moments where it is necessary. The work rate was always outstanding. You can always rely on him on work rate and counter-pressing. So yes, well done and he needs to keep on going like everyone else.”
It was that same specialism that cost Ziyech a place in the Club World Cup final just weeks later however. More narrow options in Kai Havertz and Mason Mount were chosen to support Romelu Lukaku, with Cesar Azpilicueta and Callum Hudson-Odoi providing width from deep positions.
Tuchel noted: "If we play in a back four, a 4-1-4-1, with a right winger position - this suits Hakim (Ziyech) very best. This position was not available from the start in the final so we took the tactical decision to play with the back three so did not leave us with the same position for Hakim so he came from the bench."
This distinction between formations is something that Ziyech has reflected on too.
"[The system] affects me, of course," Ziyech noted in March 2022, "Everybody knows that, if I play wide, it's my best position. When we play four at the back, most of the time I play on the right [wing]. When we play a back five, we play a different system. I think during the time since [Tuchel] came, I've adapted well."
He continued: "I think I had more problems than most of the players because I'd never played with a back five. I needed some time and I took that time to adapt, to learn from it and to improve."
It would be unfair to suggest Ziyech is incapable of playing as part of team set-up around a back three. Even with a back four, Ziyech has proven the work-rate Tuchel found valuable to ensure he can operate as a wing-back when Chelsea transition into their defensive look, and his pressing is valuable regardless of shape.
However, when Reece James is fit he is the only option Chelsea require on the right side, and the wingbacks will provide the width in the system. Given the nature of Joao Felix's loan, he is always like to maintain his position in the forward line, while Kai Havertz is preferred high up the pitch. That tends to leave one position to help lead the line and a great deal of competition in Mykahilo Mudryk, Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic to name just a few players.
Chelsea's ability on the whole, to earn results in March, will likely see Potter persist with the formation while the club still have something to play for. Potter has a degree of trust in Ziyech so his utilisation cannot be ruled out but in this system, he is not the first choice. As the season nears its zenith, Ziyech may find himself dropping further down the pecking order as attention turns to next season and the prospect of the winger departing emerges again.
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