Joe Edwards, Chelsea's under-18 manager who steered his young charges to the FA Youth Cup victory over Manchester City last night believes he has seen future Chelsea first team players in action.
When asked if he was confident that one or two of these players will make it into Chelsea's first team, his response was quick sharp and concise: "I am confident, yeah."
But one can't get away from the fact that while Chelsea has a brilliant record in the FA Youth Cup, John Terry is still the last one to really crack it - how confident are you there is a commitment to get these players through.
I am confident," he reiterates. "But I think that this is a special group, we have had back-to -back FA Youth Cup wins, and that comes on the back of our European win a couple of weeks ago. And the boys are still young. I don't think that the boys should be able to walk into a club like Chelsea at 17, but you have to be a winner to come into a team like this. All you can do is keep knocking on the manager's door and letting him know that you have that in you as well.
Some of the boys have gone out on loan. Would he expect some like Dominic Solanke and Isiah Brown to find themselves with the first team more next season?
"I think it's different for each individual to be honest," he said.
"You can't talk as a group. You see the likes of Lewis Baker who has won this competition and gone out on loan now or Ruben Loftus-Cheek who is closely round the first team who has not gone out on loan, so it's different depending on what players need and what the manager wants their stage of development.
"You take it one step at a time."
His charges, already 3-1 up from the FA Youth Cup final first leg, came from behind last night to record a 2-1 victory thanks to goals Brown and Tammy Abraham and record a 5-2 win on aggregate.
"Yeah, it was job done, job well done too by the players," he said. "But the pressure should always be there too when you represent Chelsea Football Club.
"We get the example set from first team level. It is all well and good to have good players but you have to win as well. That's what the game is about and it was great to get another trophy."
While the kids were doing their stuff at the Bridge, the first team were up North preparing for Wednesday's Premier League clash against Leicester City.
But that did not mean the kids were forgotten.
"Yes we got a message from them. I got one from John Terry just before the game and also from assistant coach Steve Holland, who I speak to before every game, which was nice."
Sitting in the stand watching Isaiah Brown and Tammy Abrahams score the goals was owner Roman Abramovich.
"The players were made aware of that as well," said Edwards. "It just shows the support and how interested he is in us. And we wanted to put on a good performance for him. It wasn't just about sitting back, as we had a two-goal cushion coming into this game and just win the trophy, we wanted to give a performance and hopefully we did that.
Manchester City took an early lead but the players showed character after going goal behind - Edwards agreed.
"We knew that they were going to be a big threat. They were teed up to come at us as they had nothing to lose. The goal came out of the blue and was early. So then it was a test of character. I felt that looking back to last year's final against Fulham we were poor in the first half. That was where we have grown and we showed a lot of maturity to take control of the game again.
The club has players who have made Champions League debuts, been on bthe bench in Premier League games, yet they are not 'big-time Charlie's' are they? Edwards was asked.
"That's a positive thing to be with the first team. When they are around players like Willian and Eden Hazard and see how hard they work, Brown and Solanke can learn from them. We did not want to let Man City into the game so we asked the front players to put a real shift in and both were outstanding."
Sometimes when players are asked to drop down it can be hard to adjust again. But they were fine, weren't they?
"That's a big part of it. That's football if you are to have a long career you are going to have probably more downs than ups. So when you get the chance and think you have made it and then drop down again you have to show the right temperament and mentality to keep producing the goods."
How much did it help to have eight lads who played in last year's final?
"It helped massively," he admitted.
"You could probably take for granted how straightforward the second half was - 'Ah, Chelsea have good players', but good game management is key and we have so often seen eight, nine 10-goal thrillers in the past, but you could see the growth in these players.
"Man City did not stop trying, their full back were pushing on, but the way our players managed the game with the ball was excellent."
On a personal level, you coached Dom Solanke at u-8s, was it more special for you to see him succeed?
"Yes, when I was a young coach working with the young players you are aiming for them to be the best they can be when they are about 14/15 and then wondering where they can get to. So for me to witness at first-hand and keep helping them is nice. Also, when you have that bond with them, they trust you and you trust them and that makes nights like last night a lot easier."
Is that what the club is trying to do - to take youth development on?
"I think you have seen that in the past with Brendan Rodgers, Paul Clement and Steve Holland. There are a lot who step up through the different age groups. I came in at an early age. This club is not just a great place to develop as a player but also as a coach.
"It's an excellent place for staff to watch the likes of Mourinho and Rodgers and develop as well"