Hakim Ziyech has had a rollercoaster of a season so far.
The Moroccan winger signed off for the international break in phenomenal style with an exquisite finish against Spurs. The strike summed up everything Chelsea fans hoped they were getting when the Blues completed the £33.3million signing: class, composure and wizardry.
It capped off a fine month of three goals in six games for the 28-year-old.
Even January wasn't smooth, however. Even after his goal against Brighton, there seemed little joy in his celebration with players appearing duty-bound to surround each other and engage in conversation rather than embracing the moment.
It was understandable given Chelsea's performance to that point, but critics would view it as problematic and the very least denying the side the momentum it needed. Thomas Tuchel was unconcerned however and put the lack of celebration and Ziyech's agitated conversation with Romelu Lukaku down to tiredness.
Following the win over Spurs, Ziyech noted the reasoning for the two very different reactions to those goals.
He said: "It’s just two different situations. In the game against Brighton, I got the first to make it 1-0, but we weren’t playing well, so there was a little bit of frustration. But against Tottenham, I think right from the beginning we played well."
Frustrating is perhaps the word that best sums up Ziyech's 2021/22.
The former Ajax star was Chelsea's best performer throughout pre-season. He produced impressive performances and goals against the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham. Ziyech was present from the first day of pre-season, earned Tuchel's trust and a start in the UEFA Super Cup.
The winger wasted little time proving he could have an impact for the Blues when he opened the scoring against Villareal, but a shoulder injury followed from an innocuous landing. After appearing set to start the season as a star for the Blues, Ziyech's appearances were more intermittent as he recovered.
He only missed the opening day of the Premier League through the injury but the ex-Heerenveen and Twente star only made two Premier League starts before November. Tuchel believed that he was struggling to entirely overcome his injury.
The Blues boss said: "He fought his way into the team, he was in the team in the beginning of the season because of performance, because it was so obvious after the pre-season that he has to be on the pitch.
"To start from there he was on the pitch, he scored and then had the injury in the Super Cup game and from there I felt that it cost him a lot because maybe even until today I don’t feel him 100 per cent free with his shoulders.
"Surely when we played him and made him play over 90 minutes, we started him several times after that, started him in Premier League and Champions League, I felt that even if it is maybe no pain, even if it is maybe unconscious, subconscious, there is something that limits him in his movements and in his freedom to move to turn and to accelerate and decelerate and I think he needs time and patience to fight his way back into the team."
As 2021 approached its end, starts remained few and far between for Ziyech and transfer talk emerged. Reports of a dream move to Barcelona, a transfer to Borussia Dortmund and a return to Ajax were all touted, though Tuchel poured cold water on the potential of any such transfer.
The 48-year-old German has always been reasonably forthright in the public domain, and was clearly candid with Ziyech's position. The same appears true behind closed doors, and Tuchel has consistently stuck to his word when it has come to providing opportunities.
That is something Ziyech responds to.
Speaking to the Ziggo Sport, Ziyech said: “A player and coach should have (a reasonable bond). If there’s anything (wrong), I’ll tell you. And if he finds something, he says it (to me) too. You don’t always have to agree, of course.
“From the moment (Tuchel) came in, he has been sincere. Whether it’s in my favour or not, I’d rather you be sincere than try to do it some other way. He’s always been sincere and I appreciate that more than you do it any other way.”
Only Jorginho, Mason Mount and Reece James have provided more goals and assists combined for the Blues this season, with the Moroccan tallying five goals and four assists in his 23 appearances.
Given his current form and pre-season displays, it's clear that Ziyech thrives when he gets momentum, and can prove to be a difference-maker going forwards.
With Chelsea's struggles in attack, that could prove crucial and the ability to produce a goal out of nothing, as he did with his hidden strike against Brighton. It was frustrating to not get a win at the Amex, but without Ziyech's goal, many would argue Chelsea were heading for defeat.
With five starts in January amid a relentless schedule, Tuchel has clearly found his faith in what could prove to be a talismanic figure.
Chelsea's head coach seemed to suggest we could continue to see Ziyech following the break, with the potential of sticking with the formation utilised against Spurs.
He said: "It was one of his 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 wing-back.
"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."
There's little reason to suggest that Tuchel won't follow through in his word, although Chelsea could see a number of absent stars returning by the next time they play in the Premier League.
When Tuchel trusts Ziyech, you know he's in the first team on merit and an impact won't be too far away.
