Ziyech has not featured in the Premier League since starting the goalless draw with Wolves in Tuchel’s first game in charge. He did get 70 minutes against Barnsley in the FA Cup, but otherwise has found himself behind the likes of Mason Mount, Timo Werner, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic in the pecking order for those two places off the central striker in Tuchel’s preferred 3-4-2-1 system.

‘It is my fault, actually, not his fault,’ said Tuchel at his press conference today.

‘There are some decisions for other players that means Hakim suffers a little bit at the moment. I agree with that, it is my responsibility and my fault he cannot show more of his potential.

‘It is my hard decisions for Mason and for Callum in the half-positions where we see him the strongest. There have been other hard decisions to make. It is a good thing. It’s never easy, but it means we have quality.

‘When I look at the schedule we can be sure we need all our players. No matter how hard times are for him personally, I cannot say one bad thing for Hakim. He had a good training session yesterday, he is working hard and when the moment comes I expect the best Hakim Ziyech.

‘During some moments at a club like Chelsea with a squad that keeps winning, it can be like this. Sometimes you have to wait. He’s not the only guy. Things will turn around if he takes care he is in shape, in the right mood and is ready when he is needed.’

It is approaching a month since Tuchel took the reins at Chelsea. Detailed training time has been in short supply because of the number of games we are playing right now, but that has not stopped the boss from implementing his football philosophy.

It has been a near flawless start, with five wins and a draw from his first six games, and as bigger tests lurk on the horizon, the boss has explained what he has learned about his players in these opening weeks.

‘I have experienced incredible work ethic from them. They are hungry, they are eager to improve, eager to compete as a team. I feel them all together as a group. We can totally rely on them, that we play our principles in the game and how we approach games. This is the most important.

‘If we have less time on the training pitch, we work on video sessions in the media room. We prepare the games and we use the games to improve and get used to each other. There are so many good behaviours in our games it is a pleasure to work with. It is a very good level from where we want to improve. That is the challenge in sports.

‘I trust them for sure,’ added Tuchel.

‘It’s not only trust because of results, it’s trust because of how we interact, how we behave every day, here in Cobham and out on the training pitch, and situations in games.

‘There is no reason to doubt them. We try to guide them, and I feel totally included in that process, and I feel a very strong bond with the players. I can only repeat it’s a pleasure to be here.’