It was a disappointing start to the week for the Under-21, who exited the EFL Trophy at the group stage on Tuesday evening.

Despite giving our all at Cledara Abbey Stadium, we were held to a goalless first half by Cambridge. And the game tipped in favour of the League One side when the U's secured a late goal through Amaru Kaunda.

The Blues fought hard to level the contest in the dying minutes, but couldn't find an equaliser and bowed out of the competition.

'We knew the obstacles we were going to face in this competition would be different,' Coelho explained. 'Eventually, these League One teams cause us more problems in terms of physicality, but it puts our players in an environment where they need to decide quickly and act early.

'Playing in that kind of environment helps us develop our game at a faster pace. Things we do well in our league aren't possible at the same pace against opponents like this. It's necessary for us to increase the tempo and that's what we have learned from these kinds of matches.'

Our Under-21s started the EFL Trophy with a 3-2 victory over League Two side Bromley. Yet trips to Charlton and Cambridge, both in League One, proved greater tests for the young Blues.

'I think if we compare this performance with our game against Charlton in the same competition the previous week, we raised our level a little bit.

'In the first half, we controlled the game for long periods, but we were not able to create threats near the box as we like to and normally do in Premier League 2. Still, we had some good spells in the first half.

'The second half was more difficult. Cambridge adjusted their approach, became more physical, and we struggled for the first 15 minutes after half-time. We conceded a penalty, but Lucas Bergstrom saved it, giving us a bit more energy and creating some chances to score.

'In the end, they found the goal to win, and it was a tough match with important lessons. The players also felt they could have won the game, but Cambridge hadn’t conceded a goal in their previous four matches, all victories, so it was a tough challenge.

'Unfortunately, the result means we exit a competition to which we give a lot of importance, as it offers us an environment, obstacles, and difficulties that help our players develop significantly.'

An opportunity for the Blues to bounce back – and showcase the lessons learned from our EFL Trophy outings – comes tonight against Derby County.

After two matches in the Premier League Cup, Coelho's side sit atop Group 1 with ten goals scored. The Rams are second, with three points taken from their opening two fixtures.

Watch the next generation in action

Supporters worldwide can watch our Under-21s take on Derby County in the Premier League Cup at the Proctor Cars Stadium. The match will be streamed live kicking off at 7pm, free of charge, on the official Chelsea app and website. Access the stream through the Derby County U21 vs Chelsea U21 Match Centre.