Sunday 16 July 2017 12:38, UK
New Chelsea signing Tiemoue Bakayoko believes he has joined the "biggest club" in England.
And the France international declared himself ready to achieve "great things" at the club he perceives as the Premier League's finest.
"I'm very happy to be here," he told the Blues' official website. "For me this is the biggest English club, and I hope to achieve great things here. I am very proud.
"Chelsea is a great club with a great history and they are the champions of England. My wish was to be at the best English club there is today.
"Now the work starts. I'm very impressed by the facilities. Everything is much bigger than I have known and it seems like the perfect place to play football."
Bakayoko revealed he had already met boss Antonio Conte and says he is focused on working up to "fighting form" to cope with the rigours of England's top flight.
"We spoke a lot about tactics and training and he took the time to talk to me about my game and explain I must be serious-minded and work hard," Bakayoko said of his briefing with the Italian.
"I know the Premier League is a very difficult championship - one of the most difficult in the world. It is very physical and I know you must be in fighting form to compete in this league.
Asked about his football heroes, the central midfielder cited Chelsea legend Didier Drogba - and revealed another former Stamford Bridge favourite, Claude Makelele, had helped develop his game.
"Drogba has had a stellar career and he managed to do so many great things, first at Marseille and then here at Chelsea," he added. "He is definitely an example I wish to follow, be it the footballer or the person himself.
"Makelele helped me greatly. When he arrived at Monaco I wasn't a very, very good player, but I had a lot of discussions with him, he gave me a lot of advice, and he allowed me to play my style of football more simply."
