That is it, then. It feels like the end of an era. A lot can be said about Chelsea's UEFA Conference League league phase but it was fun.

The Blues had fun. It was clear to see. It gave the likes of Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and so on, the chance to go out on the pitch and show what they can do. That is crucial, especially given the lack of time they have had on the grass in the Premier League this term.

Chelsea's next game in the competition, though, will not be until March - just less than three months away. While the Blues do have a hectic schedule of fixtures coming up, it may now see the aforementioned trio of Nkunku, Felix and Dewsbury-Hall, as well as others, start to see less minutes on the pitch.

READ MORE: Four Chelsea stars just played their last game for Enzo Maresca as transfer decision confirmed

READ MORE: Every word Enzo Maresca said on Marc Guiu goals, Chelsea victory, Marc Cucurella transformation

For a lot of Chelsea's really talented squad of players, the Conference League has been a fantastic opportunity. Enzo Maresca left the likes of Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana out of the European squad for the newly-formatted group stage, but has the chance to call them up for the knockout stage.

"It depends also a little bit about the January transfer window, it depends if players are going to leave or players are going to arrive," the Chelsea head coach explained when asked whether he would call upon the trio. "So talking at this moment about the next squad, I don't know, I don't have any idea, we need to wait and we'll see."

The so-called 'B team' finished the league phase with a perfect record. Six games, six victories - each one by at least a two-goal margin. Twenty-six goals scored and five conceded. Very, very comfortable.

Their final match of this stage was a 5-1 demolition of Shamrock Rovers. As expected, Chelsea looked a class above their opposition on Thursday night. Here are some of the other main talking points from the match...

Guiu has unique sell

"With Marc, the problem is that sometimes we forget the age," Maresca said post-Shamrock. "He's the same age as Josh Acheampong, Ty [George] - he's already scored six goals in this competition, and since we started he's working well, he's taking his chance.

"He knows that with Nicolas [Jackson] and Christo [Nkunku] there, it is not easy for him. But it is important that he continues to work in the right way."

Maresca hit the nail on the head - and of course, he knows better than anyone else. Guiu is performing at a really high standard for Chelsea right now but the issue is the players he has ahead of him in the pecking order.

Nicolas Jackson is one of the most in-form strikers in the Premier League at the moment, while Nkunku just lives and breathes goals - seemingly every time he plays football. However, Guiu could not have made a better presentation of his ability, especially in the last two matches.

A superb double in Kazakhstan last week was followed up - and surpassed - by a wonderful first-half hat-trick against Shamrock. Guiu, still only 18-years-old, is a constant menace for whoever he is facing. Defenders hate playing against him, make no mistake about that.

The former Barcelona youngster never stops working. He is so quick as well, off the ball, and his pressing is so intelligent at such a young age. It is a statement to make but he may well be the best presser at Chelsea right now.

Dewsbury-Hall admission

It was a great night for Dewsbury-Hall. The 26-year-old made his 15th appearance for Chelsea in all competitions and scored his second goal for the club. A fine finish into the bottom corner gave the Blues the two-goal advantage they needed to eventually run riot at Stamford Bridge.

However, questions over his future refuse to go away. It seems a bit mad to say that about a player who only joined in the summer but his lack of football may well be bothering him. If it was not bothering him, then there would be something wrong.

There have been rumours that Dewsbury-Hall could return to Leicester City in January on loan. His current head coach and the man that led the Foxes to promotion with Dewsbury-Hall last season, Maresca, was asked about the midfielder's future at Chelsea.

When asked if Dewsbury-Hall is going to stay beyond the January transfer window, the Italian explained: "Unfortunately, I cannot say that. Not about Kiernan, about all the squad, because when the transfer window is open, unfortunately anything can happen.

"So I'm not focused on January, the only thing I can say about Kiernan is that we are very happy in the way he is working, we are very happy about his performance, and this is my thought about Kiernan."

He added: "We don't want one of our players to leave, the problem is that sometimes the question is more for them, that if they say, OK, you don't want me to leave, but I'm not happy, I want to play more. So in that case, we are not going to say, no, you have to stay. It is a matter of agreement between the club and the player."