Cudicini's goal is playing for keeps

"For two years it's been like that," he smiles.

"You have got to show the manager every day that you deserve the jersey. That's good for me. It's good to have competition, to be pushed all the way."

It must feel sweet to be the top dog at last. At AC Milan and then Lazio, the Milan-born keeper battled hard to establish himself, and it was only when he moved to the obscurity of Castel di Sangro that he began to blossom.

Chelsea signed him in 1999, originally on loan but then permanently for just £160,000. Since then, Cudicini has worked diligently to become the club's firstchoice keeper.

Even as recently as the start of last season, he was still behind De Goey and Bosnich in the pecking order, but by November he had his chance and he was determined to take it.

He said: "For me it was very satisfying to make the team and stay in it, but the team is more important than me and it was a hard season for us. We made a good fight for the Champions League but in the end it didn't happen and that is a regret.

"The other big disappointment was the FA Cup Final against Arsenal, although it was a big experience to play in that match.

"Now I really want to help Chelsea win a big trophy."

Since the end of last season, Chelsea have emphasised their confidence in Cudicini by signing him on a five-year contract.

He said: "Of course I am very happy with that," he says. "It is very important that I know the club have faith in me.

"In return, I want to direct all my ambitions and my energies towards bringing success to the club. I have no realistic international ambitions at the moment. All I am interested in is Chelsea Football Club."

Cudicini also believes that it is not necessarily a disadvantage that Chelsea have not splashed out in the transfer market.

He said: "Buying and selling players does not always mean the level goes up. If you cannot sign the talented players, then it is better to stick with what you have, particularly if they know each other very well."

Cudicini reckons Chelsea have basically got a new signing in Boudewijn Zenden, and he predicts the Dutchman will be one of the stars of the season.

Zenden signed from Barcelona a year ago and made 22 Premiership appearances for Chelsea last season before a leg injury effectively ended his season.

The midfielder's commitment was questioned by some Chelsea fans, but Cudicini believes they will see a new Zenden this season. He said: "Bolo Zenden will be our new signing. He had a hard time with injury last season but now he is very fit. I have watched him in pre-season and you can tell he is very motivated. I think he will turn out to be our best signing."

That Chelsea may have to sell rather than buy is also of no concern to Cudicini, although he is aware of the lessons to be learned from his native country.

He said: "It is not a great time for Italian football right now. It is difficult always to be at the top. Things are down now, but in the future, when chairmen and clubs understand how to manage the money side of things, then things will be back up again."

There are no signs yet that Cudicini is tiring of London life.

He added: "In London you have the possibility of meeting people from so many different places. It opens your mind and this is important. And when you come to the stadium, the fans breathe down your neck.

"The atmosphere is so good and the supporters stick with you even when you are not playing well. This means so much to the players."

But Cudicini is well aware that the club's fans are impatient for their team to produce the goods in the coming months.

He said: "This is a big club, one of the biggest in the country. Now we are all determined to make the Champions League.

"There is no relaxing on our part. I have to prove to the manager every day that I am good enough to stay in the team. There is no better motivation than that."