At the end of a month-long stay in the USA, it was the Blues who were celebrating at the MetLife Stadium and hoisting the new trophy into the air as world champions.

Throughout the team’s stay at the tournament, the close bond within the squad has been clear, only growing further as they spent so much time together and went all the way to glory.

After the celebrations on the pitch at the final had ended on Sunday, Gusto was asked about that togetherness at Chelsea, and whether it felt like playing in a team of friends.

‘Yes, we are,’ he grinned, proudly wearing his winner’s medal around his neck. Everyone knows that we are a young team. We have a lot of top talent, and we have managed to create something good between us.

‘We're very close-knit, which, as I said, given that we're young, means we all have pretty much the same interests, so that obviously helps. We're really happy to win this kind of trophy on the international stage.’

The victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the final was sealed with an incredible performance in New Jersey, especially in the first half, when we flew out of the blocks to race into a three-goal lead by half-time.

Our French full-back played a crucial role in the opening goal, as he marauded forward all night to help create overloads on our right flank alongside Cole Palmer.

It was those two who combined to give us the lead, as Gusto got free on the right from Robert Sanchez’s pass and charged into the box. His initial shot was blocked, but he regained possession and found Palmer in space to roll a finish into the bottom corner.

‘I try to give my all every time I'm on the pitch, to help the team as much as possible. That's what I did in this game,’ reflected Malo, before emphasising that it was the team effort that gave us the win.

‘We were very tired, none of the players who were on the pitch let up, and those who came on also gave their all. I think that's what made the difference for us on Sunday.’

Palmer then added a second goal from an almost identical position, before setting up Joao Pedro for our third shortly before the break. It was on the importance of our No. 10 to the team, both for his talent and character, that Gusto concluded.

‘Everyone knows him now, and everyone knew him before, too. He's a top player, like many others in this team. He did us a lot of good on Sunday, so we can be happy.

‘He's always a bit in his own world, a bit reserved, but he's a very good person. He knows when to speak up and he knows how to be funny to lighten the mood a bit.

‘We all get along really well, and it’s great to have players like him in the team.’