EXCL: Interview with a Chelsea cult hero

An exclusive interview by Darko w/SPTC!

I’ve been sent some exclusive quotes by our friend Darko (@Darko_Baba) this week that we are now sharing with you all.

Ramires was a Chelsea cult hero and one of my favourite ever players. He sat down with Darko to discuss many things recently, and we have all the quotes here. Enjoy!

1. What do you think of Chelsea's performance at the recent Club World Cup and how significant do you believe this victory is for the club's legacy?

"Chelsea had a very solid campaign in the Club World Cup, and I was very happy to see the club win this title. I know how important this competition is for the fans and for the history of the club. For me, this victory was special because it was a trophy that was still missing from Chelsea's shelf, so it raises the club's level even higher on the world stage. I watch all the games and celebrated this title a lot. It was exciting.”

2. What advice would you give to current players on how to deal with the pressure of competing in prestigious tournaments?

"The best way to deal with pressure is to trust the work you've done so far. Stay focused, listen to the coach and the leaders of the group, and remember that it is precisely these great games that mark a player's career. It's trusting in the daily work and believing until the end.”

3. Who were the most influential teammates you had at Chelsea and what did you learn from them?

"I was lucky enough to play with amazing guys, like Drogba, Lampard, Terry, Cech, among others. It's even unfair to name just a few, but these are perhaps the guys who had the most influence in general while I was at Chelsea. I learned a lot from all of them and from each one I had the opportunity to play side by side. Everyone had their importance and should always be remembered for that.”

4. Who is your favorite Chelsea player these days?

"The current team has a lot of talents, but I really like Enzo Fernández, maybe because I identify in him a style similar to mine, of grit, strong marking, arrival in the attack. He is a young player, but with personality, vision of the game and a lot of technical quality. He has everything to continue to be a reference in Chelsea's midfield for many years."

5. Name the best Chelsea 11 you've played with:

"It's hard to choose just 11, whoever I forget can get upset (laughs), but if I had to put together a team, quickly remembering now, it would be something like this:

• Cech

• Ivanovic, Terry, David Luiz, Ashley Cole

• Essien, Lampard, I (Ramires)

• Diego Costa, Drogba, Hazard

“There were many stars missing there, it would be possible to assemble three more teams, for sure. Apologies for those I didn't remember or didn't put there (laughs).”