Displaying typical game and spatial awareness, Kante was dominant in the middle of the park, both in limiting the impact of Real Madrid’s ballplayers and bursting forwards in possession to get us on the front foot.

Tonight at Stamford Bridge in the second-leg decider, he will be central to our hopes of qualifying for the Champions League final in Istanbul later this month. Should we manage that, he will have the opportunity to add a winner’s medal in Europe’s elite club competition to the glittering array of silverware he has already lifted.

‘He is the guy you need to win trophies,’ said Tuchel.

‘Where can he elevate? He’s the top guy. That’s why we are so happy he is here.

‘I was dreaming about this player, fighting for this player in any club I was coaching, and now he’s my player. He has won every trophy apart from the Champions League. Hopefully he will do everything so we get this trophy.

‘For me he is an example and has an unbelievable input in any team in the world. He is key, and he will be key against Real Madrid and I hope in the best way possible.’

Off the pitch, Kante is known for being reserved and keeping himself to himself, simply letting his football do the talking, although that doesn’t stop Tuchel giving him a big hug at the end of matches!

‘He needs to accept I cuddle him!’ the boss joked. ‘I do this a lot, and I need this for myself so he has to live with it!

‘He is a nice guy, almost a shy person. He is quiet. He likes to have his own quality time. He’s not loud, but I see him smile a lot and interact with anybody but on his own terms.

‘I am so happy players like him exist. To express yourself by pure performance, it’s a pleasure to watch. He has the mentality of a real helper that will always give everything to help anybody on the pitch out there, and being such a nice, humble guy. It’s a fantastic combination.’

Tonight Kante will need to once more, along with Jorginho, try and get the upper hand on Real Madrid’s expected midfield three of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro.

The Spanish champions switched shape in the first leg to match us up, and it remains to be seen whether they will do likewise at the Bridge. However, for all Tuchel’s innovation since his arrival, he does not believe the tactical battle will be decisive in the second episode of this much anticipated semi-final tie.

‘I’m not sure if Real Madrid will play again in a 5-3-2 or if they will switch to their more familiar 4-3-3,’ admitted Tuchel.

‘It depends maybe on the last [fitness] test for Ferland Mendy and Sergio Ramos. From this decision, things change. Any formation has its strengths and its weaknesses. As I’m not sure what formation they will use, we will fully focus on us and our performance.

‘It’s always a little tactical, but for me in these big games, it’s about the little decisions, the individual tactical behaviour, the tactical behaviour within groups and combinations.

‘Can we maybe isolate Real Madrid in a two against two, a two against one? And how do we solve these situations? And can we avoid being isolated in these little situations?

‘In the end, in a semi-final in the Champions League, it’s not about formation or what we play. It’s about how we play, the intensity we have, the belief we have, are we brave enough and do we play on our top level within the formation.’