Ramires ready for battle

BRAZILIAN midfielder Ramires is set to make his debut for Chelsea against Stoke today and insists he is ready for the physical challenge of the Premier League.

The 23-year-old, who cost £17 million (€20m) from Benfica, is likely to start on the Stamford Bridge bench with Chelsea having scored six goals in both of their first two league games this season.

But he cannot wait to begin his Premier League career and is under no illusions about the physical and mental toughness required in the world’s most competitive league.

Ramires, talking through an interpreter at Chelsea’s training ground, said: “I understand the challenge ahead, both in the Premier League and the Champions League and I’m ready for that.

“I know what lies ahead and I’m looking forward to taking on that challenge.”

Ramires has been handed the number seven shirt most recently worn by Andriy Shevchenko, the Russian who came to Stamford Bridge with a big reputation but turned into a £30m flop.

But the Brazilian, who was part of Brazil’s squad in the World Cup, is realistic about getting a regular place in a side which includes midfielders such as Michael Essien and Frank Lampard.

“I hope I can give my best and do well,” he said. “I’ll have to work hard. When I signed my contract, I didn’t have a clause in there saying I’d be starting every week.

“I’ll just have to work hard, be patient and see what happens as I try to become a first-team player.”

Ramires currently speaks no English but he does not see that as a problem.

He said: “On the pitch, I can communicate with the players no problem. With the Portuguese players, and with Alex here, they’ve all been helping me to adjust and settle in.

“I’ll try to learn English and I’ll dedicate myself to learning the language as soon as I can, but all the players, even those who don’t speak Portuguese, have been really supportive. I feel really welcome here.

“As soon as the offer came in and the doors opened to join a club as big as this, I jumped at the chance. I got some good advice from other players to come here.”

He admits he knows nothing about Stoke, who conceded seven goals last season at Stamford Bridge, and his most pressing challenge could be completing the traditional Chelsea initiation which is for the new signing to perform a song in front of the other players.

“I was told about this tradition today,” he said. “I’ll be able to sing ahead of the next away game, so I’ve got over a week to prepare. I’ll have a think about what I’ll be singing.”

‘We Are The Champions’ might be a popular choice for a man who Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has insisted is the “signing of the summer” and the future of both Chelsea and his football-mad country.

Ancelotti has few problems ahead of the game apart from the back injury which makes Branislav Ivanovic a doubt.

Meanwhile, Stoke boss Tony Pulis admits his side will be entering the lion’s den today.

Stoke – who in losing 2-1 to Wolves and Tottenham have also posted identical results in their two league games so far – travel to Stamford Bridge having been beaten there 7-0 towards the end of the 2009-10 campaign, and Pulis knows the Potters will have plenty to do if they are to avoid another mauling.

“They are a top side and they deserve to be a top side with the players they have got,” Pulis said.

“We know how difficult it is going to be and they have started like a house on fire, so we are going into the lion’s den.”

Pulis feels the free-scoring start to the Premier League shows that the standard of defending in the English top-flight needs to improve.

“I think we have had a problem in this country for quite a few years,” Pulis said.

“Everybody has talked about defenders having to pass the ball, having to do this and do that.

“But I don’t think we have worked technically enough on defending and I think some of the goals you see today are down to really, really poor defending.

“As much as it is great goals, I think we have got away from teaching people how to defend properly.”