Mason Mount showed the full package against Norwich City.
A goal, an assist and plenty of workrate to help out Ruben Loftus-Cheek who was deployed as a wing-back in the second half.
Mount put in a performance of confidence that hinted at a blossoming connection between the England international and Kai Havertz. It was the German who found Mount on the edge of the box to allow the talismanic figure to open up his body to beat the Canaries defender.
Finding those pockets of space was something he did again and again.
“I’ve seen Chelsea destroy teams with their wing backs,” said Dean Smith after the match.
“They play five on your back line and cause teams lots of problems. They’ve done that today even though we didn’t flatten off quick enough in midfield.
“Mason Mount caused untold problems by picking up lots of space in the opposite pocket and we never filled it well enough, which gave us problems.”
While Mount was able to find that pocket, his connection with Havertz was also clear. No more so than in the 22nd minute at Carrow Road. The duo went back and forth on the right flank and into the Norwich box before Havertz reached the byline and chipped back towards Mount to volley over. It would have been a truly special goal.
It wasn't long ago that some pressure was building on the academy product, with his misses against Liverpool perhaps overamplified because of their significance.
In the last two seasons Mount has been a mainstay for the Blues however. It comes as no surprise that only Antonio Rudiger has featured on more occasions than Mount this season.
He's not always hit the heights his performances can but nevertheless sits joint fourth in combined goals and assists in the Premier League behind Jarrod Bowen, Son Heung-min and Mo Salah.
The 23-year-old was one of few players Tuchel highlighted as finding a connection with Romelu Lukaku early in the season too. He has a unique ability to connect midfield and forward lines, something that Chelsea have struggled with for much of the season.
It was clear throughout Frank Lampard's tenure and Tuchel's early days during 2020/21 that the former Derby loanee was the heartbeat of the team.
He's not top of the pecking order for the captain's armband at the moment, even if Cesar Azpilicueta leaves, but he mostly finds a way to be involved with the team, even when it's struggling.
While the Canaries have not proven to be the midfielder's toughest opposition, he had the most passes in the final third, created the most chances and had the most shots, a true influence on the game.
Speaking after the match Mount said: "We just try and focus on what we have to do on the pitch and that’s our main objective.
"You try not to look at the outside too much, we just focus on the task in hand on the pitch. We knew we had a big game in the Premier League to prepare for and when you’re in the top three, looking to put pressure on the sides above you, that’s all you think about.
"We focused on the game in hand and putting a strong performance in and we managed to do that, which is the most important thing."
The quotes are almost symptomatic of his character and style. He has plenty of class and the industry to match that ensures he is always vital for the Blues in a forward position with plenty of competition.
