But what club wouldn't welcome the chance to strengthen their side, what club would turn down the resources Chelsea have?

Obviously, it has taken time to work with the players around me and with so many new faces coming in the summer, in a way it's been more difficult.

I'm really happy here. I think anyone who knows me well, and the fans too I hope, they know that I love the area, and the bond that I've had with the fans has been fantastic.

Before my mother died, she told me not to leave Chelsea.

I'm not the kind of player to see out my time and sit with my bum on the bench too much. I want to be involved. That's my character.

I had a fear of losing, a fear of what might happen if I had a bad game. Would I get dropped? I don't remember a lot of stuff in my career.

Nobody expects a footballer to have any kind of an IQ, which is a bit of an unfair stereotype.