Chelsea signing Maniche, who suffered a miserable three months with Dynamo Moscow, hopes to remain at the London club after his six-month loan.

The 28-year-old Portugual midfielder, who won the Champions League and Uefa Cup at Porto under Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho, told reporters his Russian move had been a mistake and he needed now to impress the English champions.

"It was an experience to forget. I was not happy. I stayed for three months but now I have the chance to show my value again," Maniche said.

The player said he had missed his family, who stayed in Portugal, and found it hard to adapt to Russian football.

"It was a different country and a very different football from what I was used to," he said, adding his wife and two daughters were due to arrive in London later today.

Maniche said he was delighted to link up again with Mourinho, who still had plenty to teach him. "The proof is he always wins and I came here to be a champion as well," he said.

Mourinho said he had signed Maniche to cover for absences during the African Nations Cup as well as injuries and suspensions.

Chelsea, competing for three trophies, have Ghana midfielder Michael Essien injured then suspended from the first Champions League knockout round, and Frank Lampard and Claude Makelele on constant duty.

"We have lost the balance of our team and we don't have enough cover," Mourinho said.

Eidur Gudjohnsen, who has been plugging midfield gaps left by the departure of Alexei Smertin and Jiri Jarosik at the start of the season, will be needed up front with striker Didier Drogba away with Ivory Coast for a month.

Maniche is eligible to play for Chelsea in the Champions League and will not get his first taste of English football for another two or three weeks because he has yet to regain full fitness after a two month lay-off following the end of the Russian season in November.

He has also been recovering from a slight stomach muscle injury.