'Terry is the perfect captain'

Published>Tue, Feb 09 10 10:55 AM

Chelsea's hero on Sunday night with two goals against Arsenal, Didier Drogba insisted that John Terry has the full backing of his club team mates. Terry put the most difficult week of his career behind him with an impressive Chelsea performance in a 2-0 victory over their London rivals. The Chelsea captain took eight minutes to make his mark, heading the game's opening corner across the box for Didier Drogba to score the first of his two goals.

Terry was sacked as England captain this week by Fabio Capello following allegations relating to his private life but Drogba told Sky Sports: "We offered him (Terry) as much support as we can. The best thing for him is to play. All his team mates have to do everything for him. It has been a difficult week for us, for Chelsea, for everyone in the club. We tried to stay together and focus on the game. It is a matter of time."

Terry stripped off his shirt at the end of the game and threw it into the crowd, before running towards Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti for an emotional celebration. Ancelotti too paid tribute to Terry after the defender produced a typically inspirational performance.

"John is the perfect captain for Chelsea. My captain has a fantastic attitude and he is doing very well in every game. It is very important for the team to have this leadership. He has a strong mentality and Terry is working for his club and we are happy to have this performance from him in this moment.

Not my decision: Ancelotti

Ancelotti refused to be drawn on whether he was disappointed with his compatriot Fabio Capello for taking the England armband from Terry. He said: "I'm not disappointed because its not my decision, I don't want to judge this decision. I knew that John met Capello (on Friday at Wembley) but I didn't speak (with him) after that."

Ancelotti denied that Terry's woes had been an extra spur for his team. "No, I don't think so, I don't think it was good motivation because we wanted to win the Premiership, we want to win the other trophies. For this we have a good motivation, nothing else." At the end of the game it was a moment of mixed feelings for Terry as his left thigh was strapped after suffering a dead leg. But the coach has promised that he will be ready for the game against Everton on Wednesday.

According to reports in the British media, sources inside Chelsea Football Club said that no decision has yet been made regarding whether Terry will be given compassionate leave to miss the weekend's FA Cup fifth-round tie with Cardiff City, so that he can be with his wife, Toni, to repair their relationship.

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