The Senegalese signed from Napoli during the summer and, like the team as a whole, has struggled for consistency during his first few months in English football.

• Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea preview

• 'We want to try and stabilise'

• Reflections on 2022

There have been signs of Koulibaly’s defensive fortitude, however, and perhaps playing in a more settled backline and shape will help his progress. He and Thiago Silva were excellent in shutting out Bournemouth on Tuesday, and the defender acknowledged the period when domestic football paused for the World Cup was a significant one for him.

‘I was looking forward to returning after the loss with Senegal,’ he stated.

‘I took some moments to think about everything, to think about football, to think about Chelsea, my new club, and to come with more motivation because I know from the beginning I wanted to have an impact with this team. This impact didn’t come like I wanted.

‘I want to make a new start, to start a new season for me. This game against Bournemouth was really important for me. I wanted to show everybody that I am back, that I am really motivated and I will give everything for this team.’

Koulibaly expanded on the collective work Graham Potter was able to implement when he had the majority of his squad back after the World Cup.

‘This break makes a good fresh head to everybody,’ he explained.

‘We went and spent time with our national team and some of us went to vacation, so I think it was a good time for everybody.

‘Then we came back with a lot of motivation, we trained hard during those two or three weeks. We had a lot of ideas from the coach.

‘We know we have a lot of work to do to come back on the top of the league. It will be difficult because everybody wants to be there. We are really motivated and we want to show everybody that the beginning of the season was just a small mistake.

‘We have to show our level to put Chelsea where it deserves to be.’

As well as aiming to make a sustained positive impact in the Blues’ defence in 2023, Koulibaly has other targets for the new year, on an individual and collective level. One stands above the others.

‘I want to play the most games I can,’ he stressed.

‘I want to play every game. We have a lot of games in England so it’s difficult to play every game, but the more I play the more I can be better.

‘As a team I hope that we get some titles. It’s my objective when I signed for Chelsea. When I came here my first objective was to win titles over here. I hope we will reach something this year.

‘For me if we win something it will be a great year for me. I will do everything and give everything on the pitch to win a title.’