The Senegalese enjoyed two of his best games in a blue shirt in the wins over Leeds and Borussia Dortmund. His performance against the German giants in midweek was especially impressive as he marshalled our defence with authority and cleared everything that came his way.

The experienced centre-back has been on the receiving end of criticism from some pundits and fans in his debut season in English football, and while he acknowledges it has not been the perfect start to life at Stamford Bridge – not helped by collective underperformance – he feels like he is ready to show his best self.

‘You have to listen to criticism, but sometimes you have to just keep on working,’ Koulibaly stated.

‘Me, I’m a guy who works a lot. I like to work, I want to always improve. I know some people were waiting for more from me, but I’m easy. I just keep on going, keep on getting to know my team, every player, and everybody at the club, because the club is really important.

‘When you have all the confidence of everybody, then you can show your quality on the pitch. I want to show I am a player of Chelsea and I want to give everyone a lot of happiness.

‘It’s important to show we’re with the manager,’ added Koulibaly. ‘We have been from the beginning. A lot of people are talking about us, but we know what we have to do on the pitch and outside the pitch.

‘The most important thing is to be behind the manager and the club also, because this club deserves a lot. It’s a club that is used to winning, and we have to keep showing good things now.’

The quest of setting high, consistent standards continues this afternoon with a visit to Leicester City.

We have not tasted victory on the road since mid-October, and that 2-0 success at Aston Villa does indeed feel like a long time ago. But the victory over Dortmund was a statement of intent and showed we still have what it takes to compete with Europe’s best.

Koulibaly wants to see us build on consecutive wins and clean sheets by registering another in the East Midlands.

‘It was really difficult to win on Wednesday, and we won it with a good feeling. It was very important for everybody: for the supporters, for the players, for the coach, for the club.

‘We have to concentrate on the next match now and think about the Champions League in one month. We have to think about Leicester.

‘We have to keep our feet on the ground, keep on working and keep trying to change the story of our season.’