What a summer...
"Of course it’s exciting times at Chelsea with the new owners coming in and players arriving at the club. I said I felt that it’s important that we add one or two players to the squad if we want to compete for honours next season.
"With the increased amount of games we face after qualifying for the Champions League and the fact we don’t want to be a team that just sneaks into fourth place but want to be a team that are challenging the top teams then it’s important that we add players to the squad to handle the amount of games and the challenge.
"But obviously the spending and calibre of players arriving makes you sit up and think this is exciting times at Chelsea. It’s nice to be able to compete on the field but equally it’s nice to be able to compete on the same financial terms as the big clubs. If you're a fan or a player this is exciting."
How about for you personally?
"I think I’m going in the right direction for club and country. I had a good season with Chelsea - it was pleasing. I’m also pleased I have established myself in the England squad over the last eight months. The next step is to get in the team on a regular basis, play well and hold my place down."
You must be glad you got out of West Ham...
"I wouldn’t have wanted to get relegated with West Ham. When I moved it was the right time for me to go. It was a defining moment for me, a turning point in my career.
"I’m playing in the Champions League this season, I’ve come off the back of a good season and I’m learning with the quality around me - it’s been a great move for me.
"I can’t talk for anyone at West Ham because I moved two years ago. It was a great move for me but they will have to make their own decisions.There were all sorts of reasons why I left.
"My dad got the sack and a lot happened at the club. I had been there since I was very young to the point that I knew at some stage I would have to move on for a change. I had been there ten years."
Tell us about Claudio Ranieri...
He’s very professional, and he loves football. He’s very into tactics. He’s in love with the game to the extent that he never overlooks or leaves any details to chance.
"He’s strong on discipline and work but he can relax and laugh and joke with the players. He has the balance required to be successful and not overbearing. The mix is good."
Your England form has improved massively. Are you comfortable at that level now?
"I like to think that when I’ve moved on up to a new level that I’ve established myself and taken my game to the next level. When I was with the England U-21’s it was hard but I established myself and made the move the to the senior squad.
"The same at West Ham - through the ranks, into the first team and then a big move to Chelsea. The first year was difficult but in the second I’ve come on strong. I’ve always been able to push my game on to the next level.
"International level is the same. I’ve got into the squad - and now I want to establish myself in the team, and in Europe with the Champions League - I hope to be able to improve and add things to my game.
You're excited about the Champions League aren't you?
"well, yes, the Champions League is the top level. Of course I’ve watched it and the quality is amazing. It’s exciting as well and when you're playing for a big club you want to be involved in that.
"I hope we meet someone like Real Madrid. You can learn things but the challenge is there to compete with them. It’s exciting to think what lies ahead."
So who'll win the title?
"It gets harder but you can expect the challenge to come from five or six teams - nothing changes in that respect. Manchester United, Arsenal, Newcastle, Liverpool and maybe one surprise team, maybe Everton, who knows? It will be tough and you expect the league to be be even more competitive this season."
People will be expecting Chelsea to be up there...
"There is going to be massive pressure on Chelsea. Because we are strengthening the squad and bringing in players. People naturally assume we are trying to buy the league. You can’t buy the league - you have to earn the right to win the league.
"The pressure will be great but I think we have the players to handle it. We finished fourth last season with the players we had so you have to expect to aim higher. There is no doubt that the expectations have risen and everyone will expect Chelsea to be there or there abouts. It’s exciting.
"Pressure is something we all have to live with. I can live with the pressure of competition because I feel it’s healthy and at the same time I’m looking forward to the season as it promises to be interesting."
What are your personal ambitions?
"It’s extremely important for me to be playing at the highest level possible and pushing the boundaries that lead to personal success. It’s something I didn’t realise the importance of at West Ham. I used to think, playing well in the Premiership, that you would get into the England squad on that alone.
"It helps but if you can show someone you can take your game to the extra level in something like the Champions League I believe it enhances your chances at international level.
"If you can prove it there than you're saying you're worth a chance and can prove it at international level and that’s what I want to do. The England manager has made it clear that he prefers players playing in the Champions League and if you look at the squad, the majority do.
"It’s now great to be in a team that qualifies to do that and then of course it’s important for me to show that I can perform at that level. I’m confident that when I play against the better players in the Premiership I can compete with them so why shouldn’t that be the case at the highest level?
You're certainly getting better...
"I’ve definitely improved as a player. I have taken hold of games with greater conviction. I would run forward more at West Ham but at Chelsea I pick the timing of the runs, see the ball a lot more and dictate play better.
"All round I’ve improved and that is somewhat down to the manager and the coaching staff who have worked hard on my game and me for being prepared to put the hard work in.
"This has been my best season - I’ve scored more goals before but I’ve contributed more this time. I’ve looked at players like Patrick Vieira’s and Roy Keane who can do a bit of everything and I’ve strived to impose myself on games like them.
"I always wanted to be the complete midfielder - rather than say that I’m not as good as those type of players I’ve worked on areas of my game and perhaps in covering the way they impose themselves I’ve taken a leaf out of their book.
"I've matured, that’s important. When I left West Ham after ten years I wanted to move to a club that I thought could give me Champions League football, success, cups and that sort of stuff.
"And in two years at Chelsea I’ve played in the FA Cup final and got into the Champions League. You can’t argue with that."
To read more from Sarah Winterburn and the rest of the Football 365 team, visit their website at www.football365.com.