Terry: New era is exciting for us all

"Hopefully, we can take the Cup home because winning a trophy would be a good way to start the season."

Ranieri today warned his players about the conditions in Malaysia when he said: "We will have to be very careful about the weather as regards to training. The humidity is going to be a problem here."

Chelsea's Asia Cup challenge will be boosted by the arrivals of new signings Duff and Bridge (£ 17million and £7m respectively) who arrive in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.

The tournament starts with Birmingham playing Newcastle on Thursday with Chelsea's first game coming against Malaysia on Friday.

Chelsea have a 19-man squad for the competition. They are without Marcel Desailly and William Gallas, who have been given extra time off after playing for France in the Confederations Cup last month, and their compatriot Emmanuel Petit, who has stayed in London for treatment to a knee injury.

Terry, however, travelled despite suffering back spasms after a training ground fall.

Chelsea's record signing Duff admitted it was "the hardest decision of his life" to leave Blackburn - his only senior club - for London.

Republic of Ireland winger Duff said: "It was a hard decision because I love it up in Blackburn. I was very happy there. It is a wonderful club, but I have been down here about three times this week and it feels nice here and my gut feeling was to sign. I just can't wait to start playing football. It has been the hardest decision of my life, that is why it has taken all week.

"People think I was stalling over this but I am gutted to leave Blackburn. It is a new beginning for me and I just couldn't turn down this challenge.

"I am a bit of a country boy up there in Blackburn. My home is out in the hills. I just live for my football and go home to bed but it is a new challenge down here. It's a different life and I am ready for it.

"At the end of the day, it all came down to whether I wanted to go to Chelsea or stay at Blackburn.

"Chelsea are one of the biggest clubs in England and, hopefully, I can make them one of the biggest ones in the world.

"Chelsea have a lot of world-class players and these are exciting times, especially with the new man coming in and all the money he's throwing at the club.

"With the squad they have got here already, and hopefully the players who are coming in as well, we can do the business."

Duff revealed that he had spoken to Ranieri and the conversation had been "interesting", to say the least.

He said: "I didn't really understanda lot. He is just football mad. All he wants to do is talk about football. It is what he lives for."

He added: "I won't know what fitness level I am at until I get to Malaysia. I have been training with Blackburn reserves (after dramatically pulling out of Rovers' tour to the United States to discuss terms with Chelsea) and keeping myself ticking over but I just can't wait to meet up with the lads and start kicking a ball again."