Adel Taarbat has spoken of his delight to lock horns with Chelsea's best last season.

The French teenager has just signed permanently with Tottenham and reflected on their 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge.

It was so nearly a stunning introduction, with Petr Cech having to be at his best to turn the teenagers low drive from 20 yards round the post, just a minute after his arrival on the pitch.

"I just thought unlucky, Petr Cech great save!" Taarabt told Spurs' website.

"It was an amazing experience. I had watched many of them play in the World Cup on television like Michael Ballack, Andriy Shevchenko and then coming on and playing against them was incredible.

"I got given a nice welcome, when Claude Makelele went right through me on the first tackle but it was not daunting.

"I respect them but everybody has two legs and two arms and on the pitch everyone is on the same level.

"I hope next season I will get even more opportunities to be involved in the first-team squad like this."