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DROGBA: TERRY HAS BACKING OF SQUAD
Two-goal hero Didier Drogba insists that disgraced England captain John Terry has the full backing of his Chelsea team-mates. Drogba took his tally for the season to 22 with goals in the eighth and 22nd minutes against London rivals Arsenal and then revealed how Terry continues to have the support of the Chelsea squad.
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."
He added: "It has been a difficult week for us, for Chelsea, for all the club. We tried to stay together and focus on the game. It is a matter of time but we will stick together and keep looking forward."
Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti paid tribute to Terry after the defender produced a typically inspirational performance. "John is the perfect captain for Chelsea," said Ancelotti. "My captain has a fantastic attitude. He is doing very well in every game.
ANCELOTTI: TERRY CAN HAVE TIME OFF
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti says he will grant John Terry some time off if the defender asks for it following revelations about his private life. The Italian retained the 29-year-old as captain in the recent win over Burnley and Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Hull.
But amid reports Terry wants to miss the FA Cup tie with Cardiff on 13 February, Ancelotti said: "If he needs a holiday I will give him a holiday. It is an issue for me and John Terry, it is not your problem, I think."
Ancelotti, whose side missed the chance to go four points clear at the top of the Premier League by failing to beat Hull, added: "For him, nothing has changed. He has played a very good game and every game he is leading very well. He is doing his best every game."
However, Ancelotti was keen to play down suggestions the furore surrounding the centre-back had affected the Chelsea dressing room. "The atmosphere in the team is the same. No change. I have never had a discussion with him about the accusations. I like to speak to my players but I don't like to speak about this. It is not a question I want to speak about here."
GRANT BACKS TERRY
John Terry will remain England's leader despite being stripped of the captain's armband, says Avram Grant. Terry was Avram Grant's skipper at Chelsea and the Portsmouth boss claims the centre-half will continue to be the standard bearer for the team.
"I think sometimes you don't need the armband to lead a team," said Grant. "He will be a leader because that's what he is. We need to remember that no-one is perfect - even the people who criticise John Terry. He made a mistake, but no-one is perfect."
Grant admits he feels for Terry at seeing him demoted because of his affair with Wayne Bridge's ex-partner and says he is a tremendous captain. "He's a great, great captain and he did a good job," he said. "Everybody forgets that when I took over Chelsea there were a lot of problems. The football wasn't good and the team was down, but he pulled the team together and he was the first one who understood what we needed to do.
"He was a great captain - and the same for England. I feel sorry for him, but this is life sometimes. What can you do?"
TERRY STILL DADDY OF THE YEAR
Heinz bosses won't take away John Terry's title as Daddy of the Year, it has been revealed. The England footballer received the award by the Daddies last June after topping a poll by sauce makers Heinz.
"There has been plenty of squirming going about the affair with Vanessa Perroncel, but the company has decided to just leave things be. To let sleeping dogs lie, as it were," News of the World quoted one exec as saying.
Heinz spokesman Nigel Dickie said: "We are aware of what is out there, but far as we are concerned, it is the end of the matter."
John, father to three-year-old twin girls Georgie and Summer, gushed on receiving the award: "I have won many trophies in my career, but I'm proud to say that this is up there with all of them. My family mean the world to me and receiving this has made me feel extremely proud," he added.
TERRY NEARLY A TERRIER
Steve Bruce has revealed that he came close to signing John Terry during his time in charge of Huddersfield. The Chelsea centre-half was an 18-year-old rookie back then, yet to make the breakthrough at Stamford Bridge. The Blues, yet to be convinced by his talents, sent Terry on loan to Nottingham Forest to help aid his development.
It was during this spell at the City Ground that the youngster's potential caught the eye of Bruce. The now Sunderland manager admits he was impressed by what he saw and subsequently lodged a £750,000 offer to Chelsea. The Blues accepted the bid, but Terry had no desire to join Huddersfield and has since gone on to become a talismanic leader for both club and country.
"One day when I was Huddersfield boss I went to do my coaching badges at Nottingham Forest," said Bruce. "David Platt (Forest boss at the time) invited me and Gianluca Vialli there. It was a cold miserable afternoon and I saw John Terry in his short sleeves rolling his shirt up - he was on loan there.
"I thought, 'Christ, he'll do me. I like him'. I bid £750,000 for him and Chelsea accepted it. But the boy didn't want to leave Chelsea at the time. I was close. At the death he didn't want to go.
"He's everything you'd want in a central defender, he's a born leader. On a cold day in January he was just like 'Bring it on'.
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