Perhaps some people in Tottenham prefer that Ebereechi Eze was in the stands at Chelsea, safe for the risk of injury. Their pursuit of Eze has been long and difficult, and to see the process destroyed in his final phase, those efforts would have made a complete waste of time.
Fortunately for all those involved, the Crystal Palace and England came out undamaged from the Draw Stamford Bridge and Spurs were treated to another example of his class while closer to a £ 60 million deal.
Not only scored with the free kick and excluded from a technical or other sublime display, but rather the attitude of Eze. His dedication to the palace cause, his mental strength and determination to do the right thing.
“His mentality is probably his strongest asset,” says Chris Ramsey, who was head coach of Queens Park Rangers when they signed Eze at the age of 18 after his release of Millwall, and the technical director and head of coaching by the time they sold him for £ 20 million to Palace for £ 20 million four years later.
“He has a lot of self-confidence, a spiritual person and a strong family unit around him. Some players lose the focus with the first snuff of a movement, but there is all this sound going on and he does not play like someone distracted. He is fully focused, grateful for the chance that Crystal Palace has given him and that says a lot about him and the culture in Palace. '
It cannot have been failed to make an agreement with Thomas Frank, a man of principle himself.
Eze's talent on the ball is without a doubt. In five years in Palace, he grew up a top -class top baller, understood his role to the team and the learning of ways to impose his strengths on a game and to influence the results on the largest stage.
After a modest beginning to last season, his contributions since March was exceptional against Latvia in Wembley, against Latvia in Wembley, when he scored his first goal. Almost as if that was the last part of the puzzle in place. The goal of convincing him that he belonged in that kind of elevated company.
It was the first in a series of 10 goals in 13 games, including the opener in a FA Cup quarterfinals against Fulham, the opener in a FA Cup semi -final against Aston Villa and the only goal of the final against Manchester City.
There were goals against Arsenal and City in the Premier League and both goals in a 2-0 win in Tottenham in May.
“He believes he is at that level,” Ramsey tells Daily Mail Sport. 'In the dressing room it gets easily to feel the imposter syndrome. He doesn't have that. He knows he is good enough and just plays his game. Even with England he does not play safely. That is the result of the highest confidence. He is physically at its peak.
“Palace did very well with him. Now he is ripe. It would be a shame if he became overripe. '
Eze is 27, and yet most of the richest clubs want to sign younger players to develop them with a sales potential. To a certain extent it can explain why the importance of Arsenal has disappeared. They have spent heavily on Viktor Gyokees at the same age.
For Spurs, the insurance of a player has been proven in the Premier League and settled in London. There should be minimal adjustment outside the tactical requirements of the head coach, the habits of teammates and the rhythms of the team.
Frank's team seemed robust and effective in his first two games, although Eze would add a little imagination. It is something they expect in N17 and something they are short of with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevksi injured.
Mohammed Kudus produced eruptions of excitement in his home debut and two assists for Richarlison in a 3-0 win against Burnley on Saturday.
It could be said that Kudus and Eze are players who decorate a game instead of dominating, although that has always been the case with Flair players. They will not be consistent because of the high rate of what they are trying to do.
Those who deliver every time are really among the great ones of the game and the adaptation of modern football to these inconsistencies has been to build a team with a battery of flair options.
This player for this game and that player for that game and the flexibility to make changes to the bank when things will not plan. But very few are not aware of their defensive responsibilities, including Eze.
He may not be able to go back and tackle, but under Roy Hodgson and Oliver Glasner have learned to appreciate his role in the form of the team.
“There are different ways to analyze defensive strengths,” Ramsey adds. 'Even those who are not brilliant in an-V-One duels can work within a unit. It is one of the things that Palace helped to realize.
'That does not mean that you have to block photos, such as a middle half, but if you have to defend with 10, you defend with 10, and it is tactical to understand what is needed a huge part of his game.
“At times when he developed with us at QPR, he could be spent too much, but he got a point where the balance is good.”
In Palace they found a way to make him most effective. With Jean-Philippe Mateta who leads the line, the pace of Ismaila Sarr extends with the opponents and the creation of space, Adam Wharton Bruists in his feet and wing back gutters that tear the flanks up and down.
There is no reason why Frank cannot build a similar structure around his strengths, with a powerful defense platform, speedsters wide and a powerful center forward to keep the ball up.
The future is starting to take shape at Spurs. Captain Cristian Romero has committed his future to the club and signed a new contract until 2029. Djed Spence has signed until the same year with the option of another year.
Savinho wants to participate from Manchester City. Eze will be the jewel in the middle.