If it was a reminder of the way things used to be at Chelsea it was also possible to see this triumph as the start of them marching towards a brighter future. The first major final of the post-Abramovich era beckons and, for owners as derided as Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, there must be something satisfying about evidence of their grand youth project finally showing signs of coming together.
This was a total mismatch, Middlesbrough blown away during a torrid first half, Stamford Bridge alive at last. After 18 months of turbulence, Chelsea delighted in cutting loose and turning this Carabao Cup semi-final into a demolition. Mauricio Pochettino, the coach charged with making sense of all the spending, could relax. Chelsea, who once made reaching cup finals look routine, were never in danger.