It's not all rosy, admits Malouda

Admitting he still needs to adapt to the different culture he has discovered at Stamford Bridge he said: "All is not rosy but I'm happy."

He said: "It is not as tense as people say, but my relationship with the players is different to the ones I had at Lyon, which remains a club of family dimensions.

"At Chelsea, the players come and they go. It is harder to create a bond." he told French newspaper L'Equipe.

Malouda has one of his best pals in striker Didier Drogba, with whom he played in French football, but is clearly missing a warmer atmosphere in the dressing room.

He added, though: "Team spirit does exist. The difference is in the preparation. It is more individual, really relaxed.

"The players have less need of each other to prepare. In France, we are used to preparing together, talking to each other. We do need that.

"We are more rigid, too. We have to do everything as we did for the match before. If not, it might change the result. That superstition is really Latin.

"I am still in an adaptation period. All is not rosy, there are quite a few dificulties, but I'm happy. It's a new, really exciting challenge.

"Difficulties? There's the competition for places which is very strong and then it's another culture. I have to digest all that.

"But it is really nice to play in a context where there is so much expectation. That makes me more responsible and I adore that."