It’s been a bright start to life in west London for the young French midfielder, who joined us in the summer from Stade Rennais, and he had plenty to say when we sat down with him at our Cobham training ground.

In a wide-ranging interview, the 19-year-old talks about crossing paths with Mauricio Pochettino in France, studying John Mikel Obi’s game as a kid, how his upbringing at Stade Rennais has readied him for this exciting new challenge in the Premier League this season, and what he can bring to the Chelsea team.

‘I want to be the kind of midfielder that you want to have in your team,’ he says. ‘I want to be aggressive, win balls, push the team forward. I think I’m in a good place now. We have good midfielders and I’m ready to gain my place and to learn with players like them.

‘I would say the intensity is the thing I have noticed most about English football. Every time, if you go to try and score a goal but you miss a chance, the other team will directly go up the other end. It goes up and down, you know?

‘So I would say that, plus the aggression, are what I’ve noticed. But that’s what I like. I’m the kind of player that likes to win balls, go hard. This is, for me, the best league in the world.’

The programme also includes columns with Mauricio Pochettino, Reece James, Women’s team manager Emma Hayes and Academy head coaches Mark Robinson, and Hassan Sulaiman, along with a whole host of historical features.

Gullit talks about his rapid ascent to the Chelsea dugout, when fan power helped earn him the job as player-manager, while there’s a long read on William Lewis, the secretary-manager who helped shaped the early prospects of both Chelsea and Brentford.

There’s also a touching tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton, who sadly passed away last weekend, which includes some wonderful recollections from the late John Hollins, who had spoken glowingly about the Manchester United and England legend in the past.

Make sure to pick up your copy from the programme sellers around Stamford Bridge on Sunday, or order one online from our publications partner Reach Sport here.

● If you want to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or any other special occasion, or you just want to let everyone know how much you love the Blues, get in touch with your message and a suitable photo, and we will make sure it is included in an upcoming matchday programme. Send your message, along with a photo of the person you want to feature, to [email protected].