Want a good evening's entertainment? Then make sure to catch Chelsea in this season's FA Youth Cup.
There was a 3-2 win after extra-time against Watford. A 20-minute comeback from three goals down to beat Liverpool. And last night, a 3-2 victory over Blackpool at Stamford Bridge.
That booked Chelsea's place in the last four where they will face either Blackburn Rovers or Nottingham Forest. A record-equalling tenth Youth Cup triumph remains a distinct possibility for Ed Brand and his players.
Key to that ambition is Harvey Vale, who captained Chelsea against Blackpool and scored a stunning equaliser from 20 yards in the opening period. There is an assuredness to the 18-year-old's game, a confidence that has almost certainly been gained by his continued first-team exposure this season.
Vale has already made three senior appearances for Chelsea; two in the Carabao Cup and one in the FA Cup. He has also trained regularly under the watch of Thomas Tuchel since the turn of the year.
It was the Blues' head coach who reportedly decided against letting Vale leave on loan at the end of the January transfer window. Promotion-chasing Huddersfield Town were keen to take the academy graduate – and eventually pivoted to borrowing the equally talented Tino Anjorin – but Tuchel wanted the option of using Vale during the remainder of the campaign.
While the youngster was on the bench for the Champions League win over Lille, he hasn't been afforded any senior minutes over the past month. Given Chelsea's schedule, which included the Club World Cup, perhaps that is no surprise.
However, Vale is ready for more than Youth Cup outings and Under-23s football. And if the past 12 months have taught Chelsea anything, there will be plenty of clubs willing to give the youngster a platform to shine if they cannot.
Vale is out of contract in 2023 and while fresh talks over extending his deal were held last month, nothing has been signed as yet. That must change as it is hugely important that Chelsea don't let history repeat itself with another standout talent departing – just as Tino Livramento and Lewis Bate did in the summer.
Yet it is not only Vale's future that should be on Marina Granovskaia's agenda. Malik Mothersille, who has struck in every round of this season's FA Youth Cup, is also out of contract in 2023. Jude Soonsup-Bell too. And Derrick Abu, who was excellent against Blackpool.
The list goes on and on and includes Charlie Webster. The midfielder has long been regarded as one of Chelsea's standout academy prospects and supposedly attracted interest from Borussia Dortmund prior to signing his professional contract with the Blues.
An elegant midfielder, Webster took control of last night's Youth Cup tie in the second period and struck what proved to be the winning penalty – he celebrated that goal by shushing the small contingent of Blackpool supporters inside Stamford Bridge.
The 18-year-old has also trained with the first-team squad this season and was on the bench against Chesterfield in the FA Cup third round. That Webster wasn't introduced in the second period with Chelsea cruising irked many supporters, especially as Ross Barkley was handed a 20-minute cameo from the bench.
Webster's future will also come into sharper focus in the months ahead and there will be no little interest if Chelsea are unable to convince him to extend his time with the club beyond 2023, although the England Under-19 international isn't quite as far along in his personal development as Vale.
Before all that, though, there is the small matter of securing the FA Youth Cup once more. That must be the immediate focus for the players. Granovskaia can keep track on the bigger picture.
