It was a memorable night at Stamford Bridge as Ajax were taken down 5-1. There was an early red card for the visitors, three converted first-half penalties, and the Blues racing into a comfortable lead by half-time.

Reflecting on 90 minutes packed with drama, Hato was pleased to mark his fourth start for the Blues with a victory, which made it four wins in a row across all competitions.

‘It was crazy,’ said the defender. ‘They got a red card in the first 20 minutes and after that the game changed. I think we started well, we controlled the game. We got unlucky with the penalty we gave away for 2-1, but I think we had a good game.

‘Of course, with the red card it’s maybe easier, but I think we still kept going. We didn’t drop our level and we scored five goals, so I think it was a statement win.

‘It’s still a big win, it’s the Champions League at the highest level. To win 5-1 in a Champions League game is a big win.’

For Hato, the match had added emotional significance. It was only a few months ago that he left Ajax, the club where he had come through the youth system to captain the senior team.

‘In the beginning, I was a little bit nervous because it was so strange, because normally I would have the Ajax jersey on and now I was playing against them, but from my side I think I played a really good game. It was a nice feeling.

‘It was a special game against my old club. I think we had a great game from the start. Obviously, the game changed when Ajax got a red card, but we didn’t drop our level. We kept going and kept creating chances. It's a great result.’

At 19 years old, Hato was one of three teenagers, alongside Marc Guiu and Estevao Willian, named in Enzo Maresca’s starting XI against the Dutch side. It is only the second time Chelsea have done that in the Champions League, and the first for 15 years.

Furthermore, our line-up’s average age of 22 years and 163 days was the youngest in this season’s Champions League, and the second-youngest ever fielded by an English team in the competition.

The Dutchman was, however, quick to dismiss any suggestion that this squad’s young age could be a handicap. As the old saying goes in football: if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.

‘It’s fun actually. There are a lot of players my age and Estevao is even younger,’ Hato added. ‘It’s fun to play with them, but age doesn’t matter when you have so much quality, and all these players have a lot of quality. So it’s fun.

‘I think all of us will grow as players. With so many young players, in two or three years we can become great.’