Like Joe Cole, Paulo began the season working his way back from cruciate ligament damage, suffered during training in early March last year.
To return in a little over six months, as he did when he played 90 minutes against QPR in September, showed tremendous commitment to a professional career that had slowed in recent times.
The signing of Ferreira's compatriot, Jose Bosingwa, in the summer of 2008 and the emergence of Branislav Ivanovic and even Michael Essien as viable right-back alternatives meant the 31-year-old's first-team opportunities would be most likely on the left, where he has played regularly over the last couple of years for Portugal.
Then came the arrival of Yury Zhirkov, also capable of playing in the back four, and suddenly Ferreira's chances of a game looked slim.
Juliano Belletti was preferred to start against Blackburn in October, though Ferreira did come off the bench for the final half-hour, starting the next two games with Ashley Cole out injured.
The quiet defender continued to figure in the League Cup, and even found the net from close range at Blackburn, only his second goal in a Chelsea shirt (his first being against Colchester United in 2005/06) and the third of his career.
Limited appearances followed between Christmas and February, including a fine game against Cardiff in the FA Cup, culminating in a pinpoint cross for Salomon Kalou to nod home the fourth goal.
Had he been registered for the Champions League, where the squad is limited to 25, and must include a quota of home-grown players, Paulo would surely have seen further action in the San Siro, where Florent Malouda played at left-back in a 2-1 defeat to Inter.
It was at this point that both Cole and Zhirkov were absent through injury, and Ferreira could make a significant contribution after waiting so patiently. Injury to Ivanovic at Blackburn however meant it would be on his favoured right side where he made the most impact.
Despite being beaten in the air for an important looking equalizer at Ewood Park, he continued to plug the gap in big wins over Portsmouth and Aston Villa, and then played a crucially disciplined defensive role in the win at Old Trafford.
Ten straight starts in domestic games had seen him let nobody down, and although he played no part after the 7-0 thrashing of Stoke in late April, he had done enough to more than earn his two winners' medals, and goes into the World Cup as one of Portugal's few form players.
To return in a little over six months, as he did when he played 90 minutes against QPR in September, showed tremendous commitment to a professional career that had slowed in recent times.
The signing of Ferreira's compatriot, Jose Bosingwa, in the summer of 2008 and the emergence of Branislav Ivanovic and even Michael Essien as viable right-back alternatives meant the 31-year-old's first-team opportunities would be most likely on the left, where he has played regularly over the last couple of years for Portugal.
Then came the arrival of Yury Zhirkov, also capable of playing in the back four, and suddenly Ferreira's chances of a game looked slim.
Juliano Belletti was preferred to start against Blackburn in October, though Ferreira did come off the bench for the final half-hour, starting the next two games with Ashley Cole out injured.
The quiet defender continued to figure in the League Cup, and even found the net from close range at Blackburn, only his second goal in a Chelsea shirt (his first being against Colchester United in 2005/06) and the third of his career.
Limited appearances followed between Christmas and February, including a fine game against Cardiff in the FA Cup, culminating in a pinpoint cross for Salomon Kalou to nod home the fourth goal.
Had he been registered for the Champions League, where the squad is limited to 25, and must include a quota of home-grown players, Paulo would surely have seen further action in the San Siro, where Florent Malouda played at left-back in a 2-1 defeat to Inter.
It was at this point that both Cole and Zhirkov were absent through injury, and Ferreira could make a significant contribution after waiting so patiently. Injury to Ivanovic at Blackburn however meant it would be on his favoured right side where he made the most impact.
Despite being beaten in the air for an important looking equalizer at Ewood Park, he continued to plug the gap in big wins over Portsmouth and Aston Villa, and then played a crucially disciplined defensive role in the win at Old Trafford.
Ten straight starts in domestic games had seen him let nobody down, and although he played no part after the 7-0 thrashing of Stoke in late April, he had done enough to more than earn his two winners' medals, and goes into the World Cup as one of Portugal's few form players.
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