Twist of fate aids Boulahrouz

Khalid Boulahrouz is set for his UEFA Champions League debut for Chelsea FC against Werder Bremen tonight. Yet had he not been injured warming up for a Hamburger SV match last month, the defender would have missed the English champions' European campaign this season.

Fortunate injury
A week before his transfer from Hamburg, the German side were playing CA Osasuna in their third qualifying round first leg. Boulahrouz was on the bench, but would have been cup-tied had he come on. "Everybody saw what happened," he said. "I was starting to warm up and I got injured." As a result he did not play, and so can step out for Chelsea in their Group A opener.

Feeling at home
This last month may have been a whirlwind time for the Dutch international, with his unexpected move, but he is happy in London. "I feel very comfortable, everyone has treated me well," Boulahrouz said. "[After last week's international break] it has been like coming home after a holiday. The players are very relaxed and do everything to make me feel comfortable. I am very happy."

Handling pressure
He does not feel any extra pressure, despite the greater expectations at his new club. "I came here to play football," he said. "I don't get the feeling we are the richest club or anything like that. For me nothing has changed. When I was at Hamburg I also wanted to win every game. For me all pressure is the same."

Positive Bremen
Boulahrouz, of course, knows all about Chelsea's opening opponents - Hamburg were pipped 1-0 by Bremen in the final-day decider for second place in last season's Bundesliga, forcing the defender's former team to qualify for the competition. "Bremen are a very big club," the 24-year-old said. "They have a lot of quality players so they are very dangerous, as they always play to win, regardless of the opposition. They attack with three, four, five players. They have strikers like [Miroslav] Klose and the midfield can score goals too."

Ballack praise
Preceding Boulahrouz in the journey from Germany to west London this summer was Michael Ballack, poised to feature in the Chelsea midfield. Boulahrouz is delighted to be playing alongside his old rival from FC Bayern München. "Not only is Michael a great player on the pitch, he is a good bloke as well," he said.