Chelsea’s captain John Terry has responded to criticism that he was acting like the Chelsea boss when he was caught on camera barking out orders from the touch line during Chelsea’s 4-1 win over Napoli in the Champions League last week.
Terry, 31, was spotted shouting instructions to team-mates from behind new caretaker manager Roberto Di Matteo – a scenario that was commented on at some length by sections of the media.
JT missed Wednesday night’s 2-1 loss at Man City with a calf strain but trained fully on Thursday and is expected to return to the starting line up for Saturday’s game with Spurs, but played down any suggestions he was looking to move into management.
Terry said – “In response to comments suggesting that I think I’m the manager, I’d like to say Robbie has stepped up and been immense,i am Chelsea through and through whether I am on the pitch or off it.
“Had I still been on the pitch (against Napoli) I would have been saying the same things that I was from the bench. That is my role as captain of this club.
“Just because I have come off the pitch, it doesn’t mean to say my mentality changes. People might see it the wrong way, but I care about this football club, we all do, and Robbie and his backroom staff deserve full credit.”
Chelsea have slipped five points behind Tottenham after Wednesday night’s defeat at City, Spurs themselves dropped to fourth place after drawing 1-1 against Stoke, and Di Matteo acknowledged the London derby is a game that Chelsea must not lose.
Di Matteo said – ”Obviously, a win would give us a big, big lift. But, also, if we manage just to get a draw, I think we’re still in it.
”If we lose, I think it will be very difficult afterwards. Mathematically it is still possible so we will fight until the end but we are looking to have a good game tomorrow.”
About Terry, he said – ”He’s very influential for us in the team and we are very pleased that he’s back.”
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