Typically, the saying usually goes, 'you can't write this' but Thomas Tuchel's pre-match press conference foreshadowed the misery that Tino Livramento would cause his former side.
Livramento haunted Chelsea in spectacular fashion by exuding the dynamism the Blues has missed in recent weeks following a pair of perilous defeats to Manchester City and Juventus.
The former Blues defender, who swapped Stamford Bridge for St Mary's over the summer in a deal worth £5million, ran riot from right-back despite his former side walking away 3-1 victors.
Chelsea began in the ascendancy with great intensity about their play before Trevoh Chalobah nodded Chelsea ahead after Ben Chilwell's corner found the head of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who relayed the ball to the back post for the youngster to head home.
However, despite the combination between Loftus-Cheek and Chalobah that got Stamford Bridge purring, Livramento reminded Blues fans that he's the new sheriff in town and the club's crowned 2021 Cobham graduate.
The 18-year-old defender proved a constant threat galloping forward for the visitors before his pulsating persistence paid dividends when Chilwell chopped him down for a penalty.
James Ward-Prowse, who was sent off moments later for a dangerous challenge on Jorginho, nestled the ball past Edouard Mendy as Tuchel sunk into his seat, ruing Livramento's departure.
Southampton's new shining light has impressed Ralph Hasenhuttl for his ability courage and bravery in acclimatising to varying climates of football whether it's against league title challengers or against relegation contenders.
However, despite Tuchel having confessed his sorrows in letting Livramento go at such length, Chelsea included a reported £38m buy-back clause should the German boss look to prise the England youth international back to Stamford Bridge. The clause is believed to be £50m but with the next sale clause included it brings the fee down to around £38m. It's a little more than the first thought £25m sum that got rumoured a few months back but the form he is in then that shouldn't rule out the move in the future.
Ahead of the Saints clash, Tuchel spoke on his regret letting the youngster go which ultimately foreshadowed his decisive involvement in the clash.
"Of course Livramento was highly-rated [at Chelsea before he left]," the Blues boss said. "We did everything to keep him here, to show him his future and his possibilities to compete for a position in our team.
"He decided to go, that was his decision and you sometimes have to accept. There are not hard feelings because we can show him possibilities and then it is on the player.
"He decided to go and it’s fair enough, we wish him all the best. We saw the potential, he decided to go another way and fight for a place at Southampton."
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