Florent Malouda is back in training and looking to pick up where he left off in May, following a summer that had it all.
The flying winger had the best season of his career in 2009/10, scoring 15 times as we sealed the Barclays Premier League on the final day of the season before wrapping up the Double with victory in the FA Cup Final over Portsmouth.
In a whirlwind two months since, the Frenchman has seen just about everything, from the World Cup in South Africa to the devastation caused by the January earthquake in Haiti.
It is a cause close to Malouda's heart, having been born in French Guiana in the same Central American region.
'There has been a lot of travelling but I really enjoyed my holidays, I didn't have so much time away for a long time so I really enjoyed it,' he explained.
'The first part was difficult with my trip to Haiti. I went there and met a lot of extraordinary people. What I saw was really hard, I could never imagine people who could live in those conditions and at the same time I was in awe of the way they were organized and showing their will to survive. That's a really good example for me, and it gives you more humility.
'I realized they were expecting my visit and it was really important to them because they felt like they were not forgotten. That was the purpose of my trip there, and I will be back.'
Aside from his humanitarian trip, the 30-year-old was also able to catch up on some much needed family time after a 50-game club season and the distraction of France's World Cup campaign.
'After Haiti I was on holiday with my family, in Miami,' Malouda continued. 'I didn't have a training program for some time, that's what I enjoyed the most. During the year you have always a program, a schedule or a meeting, so it was nice to relax my mind and physically have some rest.
'I also had some time in French Guiana. I was there for five days and saw my family. I was really happy, especially after what happened in the World Cup, it is always the same when I go there, people give me their support and are really proud of what I have done here at Chelsea.
'Year after year I see more people wearing Chelsea shirts with number 15 on. They are proud and I am like an ambassador for Guianese people and it reminds me of the responsibility I have.'
After two months away it is now back to the familiar Surrey surroundings of the Chelsea training ground, as we aim to defend our trophy haul of the last campaign. Malouda is only too aware that the season starts here.
'Now I feel really good and I have a lot of motivation to do better than last year. It is all about work,' he acknowledged.
'Now it is pre-season, we have to work hard, we had our deserved holidays but now it is over and the season will start soon. We have to get our focus back on the objectives of the club and being the best in everything we do.'
The flying winger had the best season of his career in 2009/10, scoring 15 times as we sealed the Barclays Premier League on the final day of the season before wrapping up the Double with victory in the FA Cup Final over Portsmouth.
In a whirlwind two months since, the Frenchman has seen just about everything, from the World Cup in South Africa to the devastation caused by the January earthquake in Haiti.
It is a cause close to Malouda's heart, having been born in French Guiana in the same Central American region.
'There has been a lot of travelling but I really enjoyed my holidays, I didn't have so much time away for a long time so I really enjoyed it,' he explained.
'The first part was difficult with my trip to Haiti. I went there and met a lot of extraordinary people. What I saw was really hard, I could never imagine people who could live in those conditions and at the same time I was in awe of the way they were organized and showing their will to survive. That's a really good example for me, and it gives you more humility.
'I realized they were expecting my visit and it was really important to them because they felt like they were not forgotten. That was the purpose of my trip there, and I will be back.'
Aside from his humanitarian trip, the 30-year-old was also able to catch up on some much needed family time after a 50-game club season and the distraction of France's World Cup campaign.
'After Haiti I was on holiday with my family, in Miami,' Malouda continued. 'I didn't have a training program for some time, that's what I enjoyed the most. During the year you have always a program, a schedule or a meeting, so it was nice to relax my mind and physically have some rest.
'I also had some time in French Guiana. I was there for five days and saw my family. I was really happy, especially after what happened in the World Cup, it is always the same when I go there, people give me their support and are really proud of what I have done here at Chelsea.
'Year after year I see more people wearing Chelsea shirts with number 15 on. They are proud and I am like an ambassador for Guianese people and it reminds me of the responsibility I have.'
After two months away it is now back to the familiar Surrey surroundings of the Chelsea training ground, as we aim to defend our trophy haul of the last campaign. Malouda is only too aware that the season starts here.
'Now I feel really good and I have a lot of motivation to do better than last year. It is all about work,' he acknowledged.
'Now it is pre-season, we have to work hard, we had our deserved holidays but now it is over and the season will start soon. We have to get our focus back on the objectives of the club and being the best in everything we do.'
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