Before the game got going, Stamford Bridge was introduced to its newest son, the 36th signing of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital era. Joao Felix walked out to a standing ovation after returning to Chelsea, this time as a £44.5million signing from Atletico Madrid rather than a loan.

It is his arrival, and that of Pedro Neto for £54m, which has led to Raheem Sterling being told to sling his hook. Technically, Sterling was at Stamford Bridge, his name still listed next to the No 7 on the back of a match-day programme sent to print before his banishment was revealed.

Introduced to the crowd as ‘your new No 7’, Neto started for the first time in Chelsea blue. So much for the club being petrified of the Premier League’s financial rules, as was rumoured heading into the summer window. They have not shied from bringing in new bodies, and two of their signings combined to create the game’s first chance inside 60 seconds.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall drove forward with the ball before picking a pass in behind for Marc Guiu, but Servette goalkeeper Jeremy Frick rushed to smother it first. Nice player, Guiu. Physical for an 18-year-old, and a steal from Barcelona at £5m.

Chelsea continued to search for the breakthrough, Neto’s pace on the right-hand side positively electric as he toyed with his opposing full back Bradley Mazikou.

In the 15th minute, however, there was a warning from Servette as Dereck Kutesa sidestepped Axel Disasi before forcing a fingertip save out of Filip Jorgensen, sparking a series of corners.

Soon, Chelsea’s supporters were worried. Their team was making mistakes. We saw Tosin Adarabioyo try to clear the ball, only to boot it against Disasi to concede a throw-in. We saw Benoit Badiashile play a blind pass back to Jorgensen which could have been an own goal.

In the 28th minute, Mykhailo Mudryk found himself through after Guiu occupied his Servette marker David Douline. Mudryk dragged wide when he had the entire goal to aim at, one of several times he frustrated fans here.

Next it was Neto’s turn as he tucked inside from the right, launching a left-footed rocket that landed in the grateful arms of Frick. Inside of Stamford Bridge, it was only Servette’s supporters you could hear, around 100 of them topless and jumping in unison in the away end.

It was telling that, before half-time, Enzo Maresca sent his entire substitutes' bench to warm up down the touchline. He was exasperated, especially with Mudryk, who had been Chelsea's chief culprit in losing possession cheaply.

As the whistle was blown, there were boos. The Chelsea faithful had not liked what they had seen.