On the way to the City Ground in Nottingham, it very much felt like a party. The final day of the season and it felt exactly like that. An end-of-season party.
Both sets of supporters were singing and dancing to Freed From Desire - a song that has become a British dance anthem in recent years - five minutes before kick-off as they soaked in the Nottingham sunshine. While it was a giant party in the stands, it was strictly business for Chelsea on the pitch as they broke Nottingham Forest hearts.
For Forest, it was an opportunity missed by not qualifying for the Champions League but the stadium's atmosphere at full-time did not tell you that. Nuno Espirito Santo 's men have ended up in next season's Conference League, while Chelsea will be playing amongst Europe's elite once again.
After a two-season absence from the competition, the Blues will have the opportunity to be drawn against the continent's best teams once again. While plenty have criticised Chelsea's celebrations at full-time, a sense of realism is needed. This is a process for Enzo Maresca, who has made that clear since walking in the door at Stamford Bridge, and the first step of said process was qualifying for the Champions League. Tick.
Maresca's side did it amid plenty of doubt as well. The Italian was in a bullish mood post-match as he sat down to speak to the press. He made it clear that all of the "noise" this season around Chelsea has come from the outside and there was never any doubt or concern from inside the building at Cobham.
The City Ground was always going to be bouncing on Sunday afternoon with Forest needing three points to secure a Champions League spot. It is always one of the loudest and intimidating atmospheres in the Premier League. However, Chelsea, more pragmatic and mature than ever, managed to silence the home supporters.
In doing so, Maresca showed a different side to his game and answered the critics emphatically. Chelsea have been extremely disappointing on the road this season, particularly in the second half of the campaign, but on Sunday they demonstrated a performance beyond their age and experience.
Chelsea's average age of their starting XI in the Premier League over the course of the season was 24 years and 36 days. That means the Blues are the youngest ever team in a single campaign in the competition. But there was a steeliness about this Chelsea side; on Sunday and in recent games where they have also won by a single goal.
They have found a way to grind a result out, even if the performance was not to the level they can produce. Since the 4-0 win against Southampton on February 25, Chelsea have played 11 games in the Premier League and six of those matches have been won by a single goal from the Blues.
This is without doubt now a good season for Chelsea because their main target has been met. It can, though, become a very impressive campaign with a win on Wednesday night in the Conference League final against Real Betis. Silverware is what Chelsea Football Club has been built on in the last 20 or so years - let's not forget that.
Maresca felt the need to tell everyone that he told them so on Sunday evening and, fair play for that, because he did. He never lost the faith in his players even when things looked extremely bleak after back-to-back defeats at Brighton a few months ago.
It was a significant moment in the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital regime and that was emphasised with the former on the pitch at full-time. Boehly, alongside Behdad Eghbali and the two sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, celebrated with the players in front of a jubilant away section at the City Ground.
A significant moment undoubtedly, but also a financial boost. In the world of PSR, any sort of financial boost makes things so much easier for senior figures at the club. Just by qualifying for the Champions League, the Blues will receive £16million. Any league phase victory next season will earn them £1.8m.
Maresca, living in the moment, did not want to get into the club's transfer plans ahead of what looks to be another busy summer window. There is no doubting, however, that qualifying for the Champions League makes Chelsea a much more attractive proposition. Couple that with the fact Manchester United - who seemingly share a lot of the same targets as the Blues, namely Liam Delap - are not in any form of European competition next season, it certainly gives the west Londoners a welcome boost.
This summer window is enormous for Chelsea. They have a very strong base, with some exceptionally talented players and an impressive head coach. It is now up to the sporting directors to work their magic in the summer and provide Maresca with the tools he needs to take Chelsea to the next level.
How they bridge the gap to the likes of Liverpool, the runaway champions, and even Arsenal, who they only ended up five points behind in the end. That is the big question and a successful window is the start of that for the Blues.
There is interest in their superstar players, but that is inevitable. Enzo Fernandez is liked by Real Madrid but Chelsea have no intention of allowing the Argentine to leave. Moises Caicedo has admirers abroad, too, but the club will not consider selling their Player of the Season. These are the players Chelsea need to build around for the future.
All in all, a great start for Maresca as Chelsea head coach. While he has had his critics during his debut season in west London, it is an achievement - make no mistake about it - to have brought Chelsea back to where they belong.
A first taste of silverware could soon be on its way as well. Off to Poland we go.
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