Duff key to Chelsea’s Russian Revolution

IT was no real surprise when Damien Duff left Ewood Park this summer — but few would have predicted him heading to west London.

The star of the Republic of Ireland's World Cup adventure in the Far East had become the jewel in Blackburn's crown as Rovers marched into the UEFA Cup last season, and one which seemed destined to be prized away from Graeme Souness sooner or later.

For a while it seemed the 24-year-old midfielder with a left foot to die for was set to continue to ply his trade in the north west, albeit in red, either at Anfield or Old Trafford.

But the arrival of a certain Russian billionaire at Stamford Bridge was to change all that in one signature on a seemingly bottomless chequebook.

While Duff was in no hurry to leave the club he had served so well since his teenage years, the opportunity to fulfil his dream of pitting himself against the cream of Europe was too good to turn down and he said, after penning a four-year deal at Stamford Bridge believed to be worth around £70,000 a week: "This was probably the biggest decision of my life and I didn't want to rush it.

"It just feels right. It is a big, big chance and I can't wait. It is a great honour for myself and my family, but the most important thing is to do it on the pitch now and hopefully I can do it all for Chelsea."

Duff made a name for himself in the World Cup last year and got a liking for the big stage. It did not faze him. In fact, the bigger the occasion, the better he seemed to play.

"I certainly know I'm more than capable of holding my own among the best players in the world. I've always been confident in the ability I have."

Duff blossomed in the Lancashire hills after coming through their youth system and the boy from Ballyboden signed a four-year contract at Blackburn following his return from the Far East.

He first came to prominence at the World Youth Cup, scoring the winning goal to bring Ireland the bronze medal in Malaysia in 1997.

Manager Brian Kerr, then the youth coach, recalls: "He was small, but from the first training session I knew he'd be okay. I began to think not only will he be in the side, he'll be our best player. He can fit into any tactical plan.

"But at times I'd give a team talk and say to Damien 'you heard that, but now forget it just go out and cause them trouble'."

Duff has flourished the past three years after Souness replaced Brian Kidd as manager at Ewood Park. He maintained a high level of performance in the latter part of last season when he stayed injury-free.

Hamstring problems, though, have tended to dog him but from March to May he was in irresistible form. He scored six goals in nine games as Blackburn clinched sixth spot in the table and a place in the UEFA Cup.

Duff was also in impressive form for the Republic of Ireland where he tends to play as a striker rather than on the left wing. He scored the winner against Norway in a friendly in March after finding the target in the victory over Georgia in a Euro 2004 qualifier.

Now, though, Duff is part of Roman Abramovich's Stamford Bridge revolution.

"I had seven great years at Blackburn and there was no big reason to move, but in the end I decided a big new challenge was necessary," he said.

"It looks as though great things are going to happen at Chelsea."

No doubt Claudio Ranieri will be counting on his new acquisition to make a start on doing just that as soon as possible.