Mineiro has spoken publicly for the first time as a Chelsea player, and announced that he hopes to become a part of our history.

The 33-year-old Brazilian arrived on a free transfer at the end of September, and has been busy since then accumulating fitness after being without a club since leaving Hertha Berlin at the end of last season.

Now settling in west London, he hopes to make his mark on the Premier League after making his debut as a substitute against Sunderland last weekend.

'The Premier League now is one of the most sought after in the world, it is like playing in a national team, you have the best players in the world playing in this league and that's why everybody is interested, and I am really happy to have this opportunity and I want to show my capabilities,' he said.

'You have to be serious, dedicated and professional because you are competing with the best and that's all I want to do and be part of the history of Chelsea.'

It has been an unusual period for the midfielder, likened in his style to Claude Makelele, having been without employment over the summer, but he is now looking to the future and a fruitful relationship with compatriot Luiz Felipe Scolari.

'I first heard Chelsea were interested in me two months ago, I was very happy about it because I wasn't playing at the time, and it was a great opportunity to come here to show my work and I am really happy that I have this opportunity now,' he explained.

'[Scolari] is someone who is very well respected and loved by all Brazilians. Everywhere I go people ask me about him, ask me to send him their regards, tell him how wonderful he is.

'He is here to give his best and do a wonderful job for Chelsea and that's why I am here as well, to do my best work and show my capabilities so I am sure it is going to be fine.'

The midfielder, so named because he looks like a former player called Mineiro, had not been promised first team football in the Bundesliga and so looked to move on to a new challenge after 18 months in Germany.

'Every coach has their own way of working and at the time maybe I wasn't right for the team he [the Hertha coach, Lucien Favre] was trying to build but in any case they did offer me an extension to my contract even if I wouldn't be playing every game, but this is all in the past now. I am really happy to be at Chelsea and what is gone is gone.'

He understands that with John Mikel Obi and Michael Essien, when fit, also vying for places in the deep-lying midfield slot, competition for places is high. However he insists he is not here to upset anybody, merely to help the common cause.

'We talk about the group playing together and Mr. Scolari said everybody who is fit, playing well and giving their best will have an opportunity to play and I want to show my work, my capabilities, to do my best for the team, and we try to be the best we can.

'I want to be the best I can because that's what the manager expects,' he continued, 'to be always at his disposal, ready when he needs us for the team.

'[We are] players trying to do their best for the same goal. I have to see these players as my allies not my opponents. I am not here to fight against them for a place, what we are all trying to do is give our best to improve our games so anyone of us can help the group, that's all we want to do - our best for the team as a group.'

His first taste of English football certainly served up an impressive team effort, with a comfortable 5-0 win. You can watch the highlights from that Sunderland game now on Chelsea Plus.