Robben: I can't wait to join Chelski

"I hope Ranieri stays because we had a meeting and he came across as a very good trainer who can work with young players.

"That's very important. Ranieri is a very good trainer who wants to make his players better. He likes young players and has improved youngsters in the past, which is important to me."

All expensive foreign signings arouse intense expectations but, more than most, Robben is expected to perform, particularly as not everyone at Stamford Bridge has been impressed by his imminent arrival. The normally quiet Damien Duff described Robben's signing as "a kick in the teeth", and there was widespread disquiet that another midfielder had been added to Ranieri's stellar squad.

Robben's message to his detractors is short and sweet: deal with it. He is adamant that Duff has nothing to fear from his arrival and believes they can both be accommodated within the same team.

Beneath his relaxed demeanour there is a steely determination to succeed, which explains how he has travelled from the sleepy Dutch village of Bedum to the centre of world football in less than two years.

"Of course you're not going to be happy when the club sign someone to play in your position, but when you're playing at a top club it can happen," said Robben. "It shouldn't be a problem for Damien because we can both play in different positions. It's part of life as a top footballer and you have to deal with it.

"I'm confident that Damien and myself can play in the same team because we're both flexible. I can play on the left or behind two strikers and I know that Ranieri sometimes puts the left-footed player on the right and the right-footed player on the left. I can play in all of the attacking positions, left, right and also in the centre, which is good for the team.

"I also heard Joe Cole wasn't happy I was coming but it's not a problem for me. They won't make life difficult for me and it's not personal. It's not my fault the club want me. Damien and Joe are very good players and shouldn't worry about me."

Robben's arrival has led to whispers that Duff could leave for United, but the Dutchman is candid about the fact that he could have been packing his bags for Manchester. The Holland international was treated to a personal tour of Old Trafford and Carrington by Sir Alex Ferguson last December and would have signed if the two clubs had agreed a fee.

United's refusal to match PSV's valuation alerted Chelsea and, although he was initially put off by the club's extravagant spending, a visit by Kenyon and Ranieri to Eindhoven convinced him to become a Blue.

Robben said: "At the very beginning I had a preference for Manchester because at the time Chelsea were buying a lot of players. It seemed they were buying, buying, buying without any structure and all I knew was that they had a rich man who was buying players.

"Everyone in Holland was amazed at what was going on so we were uncertain. My meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson went very well and I was ready to sign, but PSV and United didn't come to an agreement so we had to talk to Chelsea.

"When Chelsea came in I was impressed by their vision for the club. After some meetings it became clear they had a real structure and wanted to make Chelsea the club of the future. I was convinced by Ranieri and Kenyon - they told me the whole Chelsea story and it appealed to me. I wasn't disappointed to miss out on United as in football things happen very fast."

For now he is more concerned with the future and is already focused on helping his new team win the Championship in his first season.

"Chelsea can do very well but I don't have any specific expectations," he said. "Of course, I want to play a lot of matches but we'll see what happens.

"My only ambition is to play a lot and win a prize. In my first year at PSV we won the Championship so that would be a good start."

And if he achieves that, Chelsea would see him as a very reliant Robben indeed.