In America, they call it the contract year phenomenon and Willian has certainly been doing everything he can to earn a new Chelsea deal. But in the chaos of the incredible Champions League fightback against Ajax, the Brazilian found himself upstaged.

Amid all the excitement over the Academy graduates, Frank Lampard had described Willian as the Blues’ best player of the season after the victory over Southampton last month.

But when Lampard and Chelsea really needed their number 10 to show all of his Champions League pedigree on Tuesday night, the contrasting performances of Willian and Hakim Ziyech in fact demonstrated why this should be the 31-year-old’s final Stamford Bridge season.

While Willian failed to impose himself on the match or pick a key pass, Ziyech carved Chelsea open with his wand of a left foot until Ajax hit the self-destruct button.

That is not to say Chelsea should not offer Willian a contract. In fact, as they did with David Luiz, the club would be clever to hand him a new deal and then sell him as there would still be a market for the winger that could earn the Blues upwards of £10million.