Ruben Loftus-Cheek was a surprise inclusion in the Chelsea XI for perhaps their biggest match of the 2021/22 season so far. After playing 90 minutes against Southampton at the weekend, the thought of the 26-year-old starting at the Santiago Bernabeu couldn't have been too common among the Chelsea fan base.
Loftus-Cheek made just his second start in the Champions League this season and the occasion couldn't have been any bigger. 3-1 down to Real Madrid after the Spanish giants dismantled Chelsea at their own stadium last week.
The Blues made the perfect start, though, with Mason Mount opening the scoring in the Spanish capital on just 15 minutes. The goal from Mount was a justified reward for early pressure from the traveling Chelsea. It was brave play - and it had to be.
READ MORE: Chelsea player ratings vs Real Madrid: James outstanding, Kante mistakes costly, Mount delivers
Antonio Rudiger headed in from a corner in the second period to level the tie for Chelsea, with the German jumping above everyone to reach the ball. It's exactly what Chelsea deserved on the night, they were brilliant in front of the furious Real Madrid supporters, who whistled every time the visitors were in possession.
Timo Werner sent Chelsea fans into dreamland, with a superbly-taken solo goal to put the visitors 4-3 up on aggregate. Substitute Rodrygo was on hand to equalise the tie for the hosts, though, after an unbelievable cross from Luka Modric.
Karim Benzema, obviously, was the man to win it for Real Madrid. The Frenchman headed in Vinicius Jr's cross in extra-time to seal a 5-4 aggregate win for Los Blancos with his fourth goal of the tie.
Loftus-Cheek's performance
Many thought Loftus-Cheek would be playing in the right wing-back role, with Reece James playing on the right-hand side of a back three. However, he started on the right-hand side of a midfield three, with N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic his partners.
"Reecey [James] to control and match Vinicius. Ruben in a role, a hybrid role, like Southampton," Thomas Tuchel told BT Sport before the game regarding his Chelsea XI.
A "hybrid role", similar to the one he played against Southampton. That doesn't bode well for Loftus-Cheek, who has now been playing professional football for Chelsea for around seven-and-a-half years. For a man who broke into the team with such promise, he's now at a crossroads in his career.
Loftus-Cheek has the talent, although it has not been shown often enough in recent times, to be a box-to-box midfielder for a strong Premier League side and a regular in the England national squad. His marauding runs from deep are something Chelsea fans became accustomed to seeing.
Tuesday evening, though, despite Chelsea's historic comeback in Madrid, was not one Loftus-Cheek will want to watch back. Especially the first-half.
Far too often the Blues midfielder got caught in possession, was sloppy on the ball, couldn't get back in time. Loftus-Cheek was playing in an extremely tense role, one that sees him in line with the two other Chelsea midfielders, but also have to press and make runs down the right-hand side.
He looked leggy in the opening stages at the Bernabeu, like someone who wasn't used to the role. In truth, he's not, despite playing 90 minutes at Southampton a few days ago.
In fairness to Loftus-Cheek, his performance levels improved as the game progressed, but the gamble from Tuchel did not pay off. It feels as if it could be a defining match in the future of the English midfielder.
What next for Loftus-Cheek?
"We haven't talked about it [loaning Loftus-Cheek out]," Tuchel said on the midfielder in January. "He has a lot of game time, he has a lot to fight for here if we talk about Ruben and my personal opinion."
Loftus-Cheek is approaching the final two years of his current contract at Stamford Bridge and the summer transfer window looks set to be a big one in his future. Juventus were said to be interested in the former England international in the January window.
For Chelsea, it makes perfect sense to try and offload Loftus-Cheek at the end of the season and look for a sizeable fee for his services. There still should be plenty of takers.
For Loftus-Cheek and for Chelsea, it makes sense to cut ties when the campaign concludes. The Blues, though, will need to look at replacing the academy graduate if they do indeed move him on.
