There is another mouth-watering month of action inside the December issue of Chelsea magazine, out today.

Having been at Stamford Bridge for over a year now, Florent Malouda is well and truly settled in west London and has come a long way from days spent growing up in French Guiana, some 4,000 miles from his motherland France. In a major interview, he tells Chelsea all about it.

It has certainly been an interesting ride for the left-winger, who stopped off at Chateauroux, Guingamp and Lyon along the way.

As a result of his upbringing, he has a number of South American influences, including on the football pitch.

'When I was a child, I was not looking at European football but mostly at South American football because that is where the country is.

'Because of that, I'm a big fan of Romario. For me he was an unbelievable player - not because of his life outside football though!

'On the pitch he was an artist and when he was playing he was toying with the defenders. For me he was a good example of how to be dangerous in front of goal because you didn't see him and then he changes the game.'

It is little surprise that the 28-year-old made his living through football, with little else to do and a family mad on the sport.

'Everyone in my family played football, even my mum,' he reveals in the feature.

'My dad was playing for the French Guiana team as a striker, my mum was playing too because she was working for the women's league. So it was natural that I ended up playing all the time, but it was only for fun with friends then,' says the France international.

It wasn't all fun and games though, with his mother insisting there were exams to be passed before embarking on a football career. He admits it stood him in good stead, even if it was tough when he first arrived in continental Europe.

'I was still at school then because my mum told me that I had to do my exams before I could be a professional player. So I was in normal school until I was 18 while training every evening.'

Finally of course he did settle, before going on to win four consecutive championships with Lyon, and then a high-profile move to SW6.

Getting used to new surroundings has also been the theme for Branislav Ivanovic in 2008, and he is now feeling right at home as a Blue, as he tells Chelsea.

'When I first arrived it took me some time to adapt, but yes, now I am enjoying it here. I still feel quite new, I have to say, but I'm gradually getting used to everything and the new life that's around me here. I have an apartment close to Stamford Bridge.

'It is very nice around there so I am happy. And I now have plenty of new friends in the team, so everything is good. As I said, it's always hard at the start but in time things get easier, and every day I'm feeling more and more at home,' he tells.

Now he's got his Chelsea career underway with assured performances against Portsmouth and Aston Villa, Branislav is looking forward to a bright future in England, and the magazine will be keeping an eye on his progress.

'Everybody says that English football has a very specific style and I would agree with that from what I have experienced so far. In the matches I've played I have been very aware of how high the standard of football is.

'It's a lot faster and a lot tougher than Russia. But I've also been aware of the atmosphere in the stadiums too. The fans are different here, and they're much closer to the pitch which really makes the atmosphere special. But in every country the football is different and there is a very specific style here.'

There is a huge array of other features to keep you occupied in the run up to Christmas, with a look at Ray Wilkins's recent golf day and a trip down memory lane with Blues legend Nigel Spackman.

Ray's day was held to raise money for the club's Past Players Trust as well as cancer charity Bright, a cause close to the assistant first team coach's heart.

The 52-year-old was quick to admit that his golf was 'appalling' and that his team 'just about staved off relegation' but the day as a whole was a great success.

'We're trying to get together a nice fund to support the people that have represented this club in the past if they come into hard times financially,' he said.

Spackman discusses our infamous tangerine and graphite away shirt of the mid-90s season as he casts his mind back.

'That orange and grey kit was shocking, it really was!' he jokes. 'What were they thinking sending us out in that? That has to be the worst kit that I have played in!'

Nowadays Spackman is more at home in the studio as a pundit, and we are sure he could share some TV stories with celebrity Blue Fiona Phillips, longstanding presenter on GMTV.

Like many mothers, she is influenced by her Chelsea-mad sons, and couldn't help but get involved, listing her highlights.

'All women say José signing! I think it was when Ranieri signed Frank [Lampard]. My favourite game was when he scored that emotional penalty against Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final last season and Avram Grant sank to his knees. It was a bit like a biblical drama going on!'

If that isn't enough for you, we introduce you to Fabio Borini, our young Italian forward who has been making waves in the reserves, and catch up with all the recent goings on at Stamford Bridge, including Joe Cole and Carlo Cudicini at the reopening of our museum. Finally there is a look at the Top 10 wins over Arsenal, as we countdown to the big match at the end of November.

Chelsea magazine is available today from all good newsagents as well as the Chelsea megastore, priced at a very reasonable £3.25.

Click here for details on online subscriptions