Reece James was last night’s outstanding performer, and proof of that goes beyond his UEFA Man of the Match award and emphatic victory in our Twitter poll. The stats support a sublime performance, one in which he became the youngest Chelsea player to score and assist in the same Champions League game.

No player spent more time on the ball for us than James (6.3 per cent), and his 100 touches was the highest figure of anyone on the pitch.

He also completed the most passes of anyone in blue (51), supplied two key passes, including the assist for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s goal, and registered two successful dribbles. He contributed defensively, too, winning three tackles, a joint-high figure for Chelsea players, and helped keep the visitors' danger man Rafael Leao quiet.

James’s 11th goal for us was his third in the Champions League, and just like those memorable strikes against Ajax and Juventus, it was a thunderous finish in front of the Matthew Harding Stand, sealing an important European victory and crowning a magnificent individual showing.

Wing-backs prove influential

James had a telling impact with his all-round display, but he was aided by Graham Potter’s decision to use a 3-4-2-1 shape against Milan’s 4-2-3-1.

Potter has mixed up his formations since arriving and did so again last night having opted for a back four at Selhurst Park. It worked to excellent effect as our width stretched Milan, with regular overloads down the flanks helping us get in behind them.

Although James grabbed the headlines, credit must go to Ben Chilwell for his involvement on what was just his second 90 minutes since his serious ligament injury almost a year ago now.

Chilwell won the most tackles of anyone in blue, spent the second most time in possession and had the second most touches, won two aerial duels and registered two successful dribbles.

It was his corner that led to our opening goal, and his run beyond the Milan backline and subsequent cross that James collected on the opposite flank, before whipping in another Aubameyang diverted into the net. It might have been 1-1 at that point had Chilly not made a vital block to stop Rade Krunic tapping into an empty net on the stroke of half-time.

While the possession (51.2 per cent for us) and pass completion rates (83 per cent vs 80 per cent) suggested there wasn’t much to choose between the sides, we clearly made better use of our time on the ball and in the final third. We registered 10 shots to Milan’s four, with six of ours on target in contrast to just one of theirs, saved by Kepa before Chilwell thwarted Krunic.

Records reached

Aubameyang’s goal was our 300th at home in European competition, and all but sealed our 100th Champions League victory, including qualifiers.

After our previous two meetings in the competition ended in draws, this was the first against seven-time winners AC Milan. Another in Italy next week will go a long way to securing qualification from Group E, but Potter and his charges will know the Rossoneri will come out with a point to prove after their dismantling in west London.