Are European champions Chelsea getting even better?

The Champions League winners put in perhaps the best attacking display of the Thomas Tuchel era in sweeping aside Juventus on Tuesday night

Chelsea put on a show at Stamford Bridge (Getty Images)

It feels fairly ominous to say that the reigning European champions are getting even better but after watching Chelsea sweep past Juventus on Tuesday night it's hard to come to any other conclusion.

The Champions League winners put in perhaps the best attacking display of the Thomas Tuchel era in brushing aside one of the historic names in European football.

That this current iteration is a shadow of others before it shouldn't detract from just how good the Blues looked in cruising to a hugely-impressive 4-0 win at Stamford Bridge.

It was a thumping statement of intent from last year's winners and a message to rivals that they don't intend on giving up their crown as Europe's best easily.

It was a win made all the more pleasurable as its roots came in Cobham too with the first three goals coming from academy graduates with Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James and Callum Hudson-Odoi all getting on the scoresheet.

"The crowd loves it when the academy players score and I'm absolutely convinced that everybody loves it," Tuchel said afterwards. "This is what makes this team special, not only the superstars from abroad but also the guys from the academy, who are full of quality and very humble. It's their biggest dream to perform at Stamford Bridge and to be part of a strong Chelsea team.

"It's so nice to see them part of it, it's another excellent day for the academy, and full credit to them. It's a pleasure to have these boys and I strongly believe it's a huge part of the success, to have this mix between homegrown talents and top players.

"It was a very strong performance. We had to be patient but at the same time be responsible for the rhythm and the intensity.

"We had to take care of the details, when to accelerate the game. It was a great performance from everybody, so full credit to the players.

"To score so many goals against a team who defend so well is an amazing achievement. It's important that we enjoy this, but also that we do not get carried away."

Timo Werner's fourth goal was a 24th in their last eight games, an emphatic response to some critics - including Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino - who have claimed that Tuchel's favoured three at the back is an overly defensive system predicated on playing on the counter-attack.

Having watched his side start on the front foot and never take their pedal from the metal all night, Tuchel wasn't concerned by such observations.

"I don't listen too much to what people say about us, I feel into my team and into my staff with what we feel comfortable," he added. "I felt from day one very brave in our approach to defending. We have instantly a lot of ball possession, always.

"So we try to create chances and to be dangerous. Then came a new season and we've tried to recreate it because the group is a bit new."

Callum Hudson-Odoi scored Chelsea’s third goal (Getty Images)

"In some moments things come a bit easier, you catch momentum, and this is clearly the case now. But we're not so worried what people say about us. We want to be strong in all parts of the game.

"It is a very complex game: some moments you have to defend strong and some you find the spaces to attack a bit easier than in other moments. It is so complex and we do this together.

"It stays a team effort and this is the outstanding characteristic of this team. It is a strong group, it is a determined group, it is a hungry group and it's a pleasure to coach them."

The only down side from a thoroughly pleasing evening were injuries to N'Golo Kante and Ben Chilwell, two hugely important players who were both forced off early on the night.

When asked about Chilwell's injury, Tuchel replied: "Yes, it worries me because he has been in such a fantastic moment, like Reece James on the other side.

"They have both been in the best shape they could possibly be, so full of confidence and playing with such quality.

"He (Chilwell) was in a lot of pain at the time on the pitch; now he feels a little better but he will have examinations tomorrow. Hopefully we will get away with not too bad news.

"And it's a similar situation with N'Golo Kante, who twisted his knee a little bit, but hopefully it's not too bad for N'Golo."

Injuries to key players is part and parcel of football, of course. But with or without them Chelsea look a force to be reckoned with once more.