A consistent Ligue 1 opponent during his eight years at PSG, Thiago Silva faced them as a Chelsea player for the first time last night. Although the margin of victory was emphatic, the Brazilian defender acknowledged a major moment before half-time greatly helped our cause.

‘Rennes are a good team, I told that to my team-mates in the dressing room before the game,’ Thiago Silva said.

‘I have played a lot against this team. Two seasons ago they beat Paris in the final of the French Cup, I was injured but I saw a team who played very well with the ball. They are very well organised and have a coach who likes technical football.

‘At the beginning it was very difficult for us. We didn’t keep the ball as well as we normally do at home.

‘The red card changed the game a lot. Fortunately for us, and unfortunately for the contest, the red card made it difficult for them, but we deserved the victory. It wasn’t a super match but we controlled it. Now we need to continue to work to keep progressing.’

It’s seven points from a possible nine in Europe so far, with seven goals scored and none conceded, helped in our two home fixtures by a Thiago Silva-led defence. A finalist in the Champions League last season, he expressed his satisfaction with the way things have gone so far this term as he aims to replicate that success with his new side.

‘It’s true that it was very important to win. It’s been a good start for us. This competition is always complicated.

‘If you look at the other results in the Champions League you can see some surprises, Manchester United lost, Paris lost also, so we need to keep our heads and keep working hard.’