Alex may have missed the pre-season campaign but he's feeling sharp and ready to line up against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
The Brazilian, who missed pre-season due to injury, rotated his position with Ricardo Carvalho last campaign, but with the departure of our former number 6 to pastures new, he's likely to become a more regular name in the starting line-up.
However, despite this extra responsibility, Alex is relishing the opportunity and insists the pressure upon him is no different from the beginning of any other season.
'It is a normal start to the season,' he said. 'The pressure is the same for every player; we just have to win every game.
'I am feeling very good. I had a problem about one month ago but now I have been training in the sand, on the pitch and in the gym, so I am ready to start on Saturday and have a great season.'
With the Double still fresh in everyone's mind, many will think the possibility of more silverware will spur the side on this campaign, but Alex has a different message.
'We have to concentrate on this season. We will forget last season, it was a great season, winning a Double, but now we have to focus on the new season.
'Every team will come to play us and they will try their best to beat us, so we have to think about this.
'We can do it better [have a more successful season]; we have the quality to do it a lot better but we have to forget about last season a little bit and focus on this season now.'
As he narrows his focus into this campaign and considers potential silverware, there's one trophy on the Brazilian's mind.
'I want to win the Champions League,' admitted Alex, 'the club wants to win the Champions League and every player wants to win the Champions League.
'It is a very good competition, one of the biggest in the world. In Brazil everybody says Chelsea needs to win the Champions League, here it is the same, so we need to concentrate on the Champions League.
'We have a good midfield, a good defence; we have a very good team. It is my opinion that we have the right team to win the Champions League.'
But for now the fans will be thinking only of the Barclays Premier League and our opening game against West Bromwich Albion.
The last time Chelsea played at the Bridge, it ended 8-0 in our favour, as we thumped Wigan in the last League game of 2009/10. But after a summer of World Cup football, which resulted in late returns to pre-season for many Blues, Alex warns the side may not be as prolific on Saturday.
'The fans will want a greater result but the start of the season is difficult.
'The first two or three games of the season are always difficult but we still need to win. We need to start the season well, with three points, because it is a long competition and so we need a good start.'
The Brazilian, who missed pre-season due to injury, rotated his position with Ricardo Carvalho last campaign, but with the departure of our former number 6 to pastures new, he's likely to become a more regular name in the starting line-up.
However, despite this extra responsibility, Alex is relishing the opportunity and insists the pressure upon him is no different from the beginning of any other season.
'It is a normal start to the season,' he said. 'The pressure is the same for every player; we just have to win every game.
'I am feeling very good. I had a problem about one month ago but now I have been training in the sand, on the pitch and in the gym, so I am ready to start on Saturday and have a great season.'
With the Double still fresh in everyone's mind, many will think the possibility of more silverware will spur the side on this campaign, but Alex has a different message.
'We have to concentrate on this season. We will forget last season, it was a great season, winning a Double, but now we have to focus on the new season.
'Every team will come to play us and they will try their best to beat us, so we have to think about this.
'We can do it better [have a more successful season]; we have the quality to do it a lot better but we have to forget about last season a little bit and focus on this season now.'
As he narrows his focus into this campaign and considers potential silverware, there's one trophy on the Brazilian's mind.
'I want to win the Champions League,' admitted Alex, 'the club wants to win the Champions League and every player wants to win the Champions League.
'It is a very good competition, one of the biggest in the world. In Brazil everybody says Chelsea needs to win the Champions League, here it is the same, so we need to concentrate on the Champions League.
'We have a good midfield, a good defence; we have a very good team. It is my opinion that we have the right team to win the Champions League.'
But for now the fans will be thinking only of the Barclays Premier League and our opening game against West Bromwich Albion.
The last time Chelsea played at the Bridge, it ended 8-0 in our favour, as we thumped Wigan in the last League game of 2009/10. But after a summer of World Cup football, which resulted in late returns to pre-season for many Blues, Alex warns the side may not be as prolific on Saturday.
'The fans will want a greater result but the start of the season is difficult.
'The first two or three games of the season are always difficult but we still need to win. We need to start the season well, with three points, because it is a long competition and so we need a good start.'
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