Duff says he can only improve now Shaun has joined
The 26-year-old couldn’t help but cast an admiring eye as his rival for a place in the team made an impressive debut in the club’s 1-0 victory over AC Milan in Boston on Sunday.
Duff was one half of the double act which provoked fear in the Premiership last season as him and Arjen Robben brought the thrill of playing with two wingers back to English football.
But the duo struggled with injury at the end of the season and they were sorely missed when Chelsea lost to Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final.
The arrival of Wright-Phillips has increased competition for places as Joe Cole also emerged as a threat while Duff was on the sidelines last term. But the former Blackburn midfielder couldn’t be happier with the prospect of a four-way battle for a place on the wing.
He said: “Shaun did really well against Milan. He looked really sharp and quick as everyone knows he is. He will do brilliantly at Chelsea for years to come. I think he is the quickest player at the club. We were all laughing on the sidelines because he’s a flyer, but we have always known that.
“The manager wants us to fight for the shirt and it is a challenge I relish. It is only going to improve us as players, especially with Shaun coming in, there are four wingers for two spots.
“It keeps you on your toes and you never stop learning either. I can learn off Robben, Cole and Wright-Phillips so it is only good for us.
“We are different players in our way but we are also quite similar in that we like to take people on and create.
“It’s not for me to say whether there was a big gap in the team when myself and Arjen weren’t there last season.
“Chelsea lost in the semi-finals of the Champions League and obviously we are looking to go further this year as long as we retain the Premiership.
“The arrival of new players can only boost the squad. When I am playing I’m happy, it is a great squad and it is only going to keep us on our toes.”
This is Chelsea’s and Duff’s second tour of the US and it has had none of the problems that have reportedly faced Manchester United in Asia. While Sir Alex Ferguson has had to play down talk of a rift with Roy Keane, Duff insists that the spirit among Jose Mourinho’s side is stronger than ever.
He added: “It has been really good for team bonding. We have been living in each other’s pockets for two weeks. We did the same trip last year and it worked well. We have a couple of new faces in the squad and it is good for them too.
“I haven’t heard anything about what happened with Roy. I don’t look beyond Chelsea. I have tunnel vision really. I’m sure all the lads will say we love it here, we love the manager and we love playing for Chelsea. We don’t worry about what’s going on elsewhere.”
Duff has also sent out a reassuring message to any worried Ireland fans that qualification for the World Cup in Germany next year is under control. Brian Kerr’s team top Group Four having yet to lose a game, but face tough matches against France and Switzerland at home as well as Cyprus away in the next three months.
It has been nearly two years since Duff scored his last goal for the Republic, a brilliant individual goal in a 3-0 victory over Canada, but he is determined to end his drought and book a place in the finals.
He said: “The goal against Canada was my best for Ireland but I am due another one and hopefully it will come in the big games coming up. If Ireland get to the World Cup I will be playing football for the next 12 months but that is all I want to do. There are no complaints from me.
“It is every footballers dream to play in a World Cup and hopefully we can get there. We have a couple of big games coming up. The France game is huge but we have a nice big friendly against Italy to warm up with and hopefully I will get on the score sheet against France.
“We can beat the French at Lansdowne Road. If we win our next three games we will be going to the World Cup. It’s in our own hands.”
Duff admits he is even more determined to get there to erase the memories of the heartbreaking defeat to Spain in the second round three years ago. He added: “I have to pinch myself sometimes to see how far I have come in my career. I was at the World Cup in Japan but hopefully I can be at the next one too.
“I still look back on the Spain match with a lot of regret because we should have won the game. I think we battered them really, but it’s in the past and we have to look to the future.”
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