It must have been a rare feeling for the goalkeepers this week, for once not feeling in a distinct minority.

But there on Tuesday, on a patch of turf adjacent to the driveway to the heart of Chelsea's Cobham training HQ, was the major activity in that day's training.

It was football's equivalent of a tennis match: two teams - one coaching staff, one players - heading or kicking the ball across the net.

Each team consisted of just four participants, four being the total number of first team squad players present that day and not injured. Two were goalkeepers - Carlo Cudicini and Hilario (Steve Sidwell and Juliano Belletti completing the count).

If you consider that on the other side was Silvino Louro, their goalkeeper coach, then you see why the outfielders for once didn't dominate the day.

So was this just an idle exercise to pass a few hours while their internationally-selected colleagues were engaged in serious business across the globe? There were certainly a few laughs but there was certainly a competitive edge too.

'We have fun but as a goalkeeper, you have to use your feet and your head as well and it is nice to work to help with this,' reckons Hilario.

'It is serious. Everything we do here is special. You have to put all your professionalism and attitude into it.'

Our Portuguese keeper is speaking these words in the Cobham canteen after training on Wednesday, the day after the 'tennis' event. This time he is off the back of a more normal football session; the reserves, who had enjoyed Tuesday off after their Monday night win, teaming up with the remains of the first team squad.

'We had two teams to work well today,' Hilario says. 'But Carlo and I, we spend more time with Silvino than normal. He has to think of more exercise for us to do.'

José Mourinho's trusted goalkeeper and the player he brought over two summers ago for experienced extra cover between the posts go back 11 years together.

They first met at Porto at the tail end of Silvino's playing career, reuniting three years later when the Portugal international returned to the club as a coach. They know each other well.

'Everybody changes but that is good because we get more experience,' Hilario says before deciding it an impossible task to compare his coach's playing style with any current keeper.

'He was a bit crazy,' he does admit, adding quickly, 'I am joking!

'In Portugal they say goalkeepers are crazy as well. We have to work hard. In any country it is not easy to be a goalkeeper. But when you like what you do, things become a lot easier.'

Speaking of joking, hands-up everyone who thought Mourinho's statement in the week leading up to the FA Cup Final, claiming an outfield shirt with Hilario's name on the back was being made-up in case he was needed as substitute, was a joke picked up and taken too seriously by the press.

Such was the injury crisis as players raced to be fit for Wembley, the manager insisted he may have only 15 fit enough to take part so was considering adding his third keeper as a potential striker. 'He is not bad playing forward,' Mourinho said at the time.

Mention the fact that it was a joke to the player involved and the look in his eyes quickly has you reconsidering.

'It was serious. I was ready to play!' he insists

'It was a difficult period because we had a lot of injuries and if I had the chance to play, not for fun like we do in training, I was ready.

'I enjoy playing so I can play like a normal player, no problem. I have to concentrate that everything goes well but I would play up front because I have a dream to score.

'I have a dream to score a goal and kiss my ring because my wife said to me you never do that. So I said okay, one day if I get the chance, I have to take off my glove to kiss my ring.'

It is suggested he should have done so after saving a penalty at Sheffield United last season.

'That's the idea but I didn't want to be the first one to do that after saving a penalty. Maybe one day but I have to play, not save penalties.'

The interview then takes a sudden change in direction. Unprompted and without hesitation, Hilario continues with his thoughts.

'I enjoy London and here in Chelsea, I enjoy being part of feeling this atmosphere, feeling this pressure to win.

'It is nice when you feel it. Everybody here feels the pressure, the players, the physios, the masseurs, but it is a good pressure, the pressure to win.

'I don't play and I feel the pressure because I am fighting because I want to get my chance. I want to be part of the team.

'When I was in a smaller team, I felt pressure but it is different when you are down and you want to win because when you don't, you are relegated.

'Everybody at Chelsea is 100 per cent professional. It was a big, big surprise for me because I was expecting that but not as high as I found it. It is very good for me to be here and be part of it.'

It goes without saying that the 18 games he played last season exceeded the 31-year-old's expectations when he first arrived.

That, plus the experience of life at a club like Chelsea means that even if it all ended today, Hilario would consider the move to England totally worthwhile, even if international weeks can be a little quiet.

As it is, he will continue to work hard and soak up the highly focused atmosphere in case the call should come again this season.

'I live near Stamford Bridge and I love the place I live,' he announces. 'I don't care about the distance to training, it is only 30 minutes. I want to enjoy this reality for a lot of years.'