Following the 4-1 victory over Djurgarden in the first leg of our semi-final last week, Enzo Maresca had called on his Blues to finish the job in the second game at Stamford Bridge with a professional performance.

That is exactly what the team delivered, as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s first-half goal gave us a 1-0 win, during which our place in the final never looked in doubt, and Gusto highlighted the importance of not conceding.

Despite showing good form and picking up momentum by winning our last four games in a row prior to last night, we had only shut out the opposition once in our previous six matches before the second-leg clean sheet against Djurgarden.

‘We didn’t concede,’ said Gusto. ‘It was our objective as well to have a clean sheet on Thursday because we were already surprised sometimes, especially in the second half of the last games.

‘So it was important for us to do the job and that’s what we did on Thursday.’

Defensive resilience will no doubt be important as we enter this crucial conclusive stage of the season, with three Premier League fixtures remaining in which to seal Champions League qualification, in addition to the prospect of the Conference League final against Real Betis.

Another aspect which could be key for the Blues during the run-in, which continues away at Newcastle United on Sunday, is the versatility Maresca has encouraged within his squad.

That was on display again when Djurgarden came to west London, with natural full-backs Reece James and Marc Cucurella lining up in midfield, while Gusto himself has featured on both the right and left side of our defence recently, often coming inside to support the midfield from that position.

‘That’s what Enzo asks for, for us to be good everywhere, and that’s what I try to do,’ explains the Frenchman. ‘It doesn’t matter where I play, I just try to give my best to help the team.’

As well as the objective of securing Champions League football this season, with progress to this month’s Conference League final in the Polish city of Wroclaw now achieved, that opens up another goal for Gusto and the Blues.

The opportunity of claiming Chelsea’s first silverware since the FIFA Club World Cup in 2022 is one the 21-year-old is excited about, with the added motivation of being able to make history by becoming the first club to have the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League all on display in our trophy cabinet.

‘It’s good for the team because it was our objective to go to this final and it will be important for the club to win this trophy, so we just have to go to the final and do our best to get this trophy.

‘It’s a big objective for the club. We can be the first one to hold all the European trophies, so that’s going to be top for us, for the club and for the fans as well.

‘So we just have to give our best and try to win it.’

First on the agenda, however, is another objective to tick off the list. Namely, sealing a top-five finish in the Premier League to ensure Champions League football at the Bridge next season. The tight race for qualification will be decided by three crucial games, beginning at midday on Sunday, when we take on fellow European hopeful Newcastle at St James’ Park.