I will never forget the unbridled joy felt standing in the front few rows of the Matthew Harding Lower over six years ago now as I witnessed Ruben Loftus-Cheek score his first senior goal for Chelsea.
An inviting loose ball at the edge of the box sparked a sense of anticipation from those behind the net as the midfielder latched onto it and struck the ball home. It felt ironic that Loftus-Cheek's first goal came in the FA Cup in 2016 against Scunthorpe in a similar fashion to his latest against Crystal Palace in the same competition.
Sunday's opener at Wembley was of much greater significance, breaking the deadlock in a tense semi-final where the Blues had struggled to get going. It also felt like a definitive step in Loftus-Cheek's redemption story which has felt long and arduous.
READ MORE: Thomas Tuchel's passionate Ruben Loftus-Cheek warning a wake-up call to Chelsea academy stars
The technique behind the goal that was blasted past Jack Butland was fierce, with almost three years of frustration being let out. It was back in the spring of 2019 when Loftus-Cheek's last goal came for Chelsea. It was another semi-final opener, this time against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League.
This was a time when the academy graduate was truly starting to blossom, years of untapped potential finally coming into reality. That spring under Maurizio Sarri still is talked about amongst supporters as the run where all our hopes and dreams over Loftus-Cheek were vindicated, even if for only a brief period.
All of his traits that had struggled to sync together had finally merged to create a truly transformative talent who was quickly impacting big games for the club. Then the game-changing Achilles tear that reshaped the next period of his career.
It felt quite symbolic that preceding the FA Cup semi-final, Thomas Tuchel spoke in-depth about the issues Loftus-Cheek has faced in fulfilling his potential. Actually attributing blame to the level of hype surrounding the player, wanting to awake everyone from the worn-out discussions over Loftus-Cheek's infamous 2019 run, to demand more in the current moment.
"Given his history, coming through the academy, going out on loan, coming back here, even from the outside when we were in Germany and in Paris, we knew the player all the time. He was so promising but it was always like, will he have his breakthrough? Will he have his breakthrough? He is at a certain age now and he’s never had his breakthrough, everybody is still waiting for the next step and next step."
It also felt symbolic that after the game, Loftus-Cheek's own words made the goal feel more like a turning point. Most interviews can bore fans with their cliches and PR-friendly lines, but the tone in Loftus-Cheek's voice, the conviction behind his eyes told their own story. This was a man making an honest statement, a player who was determined to not let a cruel twist of fate define his story.
Talking to ITV's Gabriel Clarke on the pitch with sweat still dripping off his forehead, Loftus-Cheek, like his 65th-minute goal showed, did not lack precision. "Way overdue!" was how he analysed his wait for his next goal. "It's been a tough road, injuries and going on loan to find my form. I always believed in myself, I always wanted to play for Chelsea.
"That's always been my mentality. The reason I am still here is my mentality through injuries. I've said for years my time will come. I'll keep working it."
It is easy to forget Loftus-Cheek came off the bench for an injured Mateo Kovacic in the first half, and while it took him until the second half to get into the game, his influence was defining. In sharp contrast, another substitute missed an opportunity to reshape his own story.
Romelu Lukaku's miss from point-blank range felt symbolic of how the Belgian's Chelsea return has gone since that infamous Sky Italia interview in December. It cruelly striking the post and coming out, a single moment offering a brief respite for Lukaku gone and so the post-match narrative continues to surround an inevitable exit.
It almost feels at this point like Lukaku's Chelsea story ending in regret is a self-fulfilling prophecy. The big money Chelsea striker failing to live up to expectations to be sold on swiftly and thrown in the graveyard of transfer blunders fans would rather not speak about.
But Loftus-Cheek is showing those narratives do not have to be so set in stone, that you can reshape a career within big moments. Timo Werner is also showcasing this, a player whose technical limitations felt like an unavoidable obstacle, one that would effectively prevent his time in west London from becoming an overwhelming success.
Joe Cole remarked in the post-match analysis for ITV that Lukaku has "six weeks to save his Chelsea career", and he is probably right. But you look at Lukaku and that pressing sense of urgency does not seem to be forthcoming - Roy Keane also noted that the striker's mindset does not seem to be right. The negative mood around him now feels all-encompassing, sapping this once talismanic forward of spirit.
The past seven days have felt telling for Loftus-Cheek and Werner, two players who after the defeats at Stamford Bridge to Brentford and Real Madrid looked a level below the standard required, quickly discovering their mojo when their coach called on his players for a big response.
Loftus-Cheek has made a statement with his right boot, that those dreams of potential do not have to be left to our imaginations. He has a tough battle on his hands to maintain a place in the starting lineup, but moments like Sunday prove his story isn't written yet.
