• Champions League

Chelsea's Terry: PSG surrounded referee first

John Terry has defended Chelsea's conduct during their Champions League elimination after Paris Saint-Germain's Zlatan Ibrahimovic branded Jose Mourinho's side "babies".

Former Liverpool pair Graeme Souness and Jamie Carragher led the criticism of Mourinho's players, nine of whom, led by Terry, surrounded Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers before the harsh dismissal of Ibrahimovic for a foul on Oscar after 31 minutes.

Despite playing with 10 men for an hour and a half, including in extra-time, PSG prevailed on away goals in an ill-tempered affair.

"Once they're charging the ref, the only thing we can do is respond," Terry said. "You can't as a group of players let them surround the ref, trying to get our players booked.

"For me if I have to run 20, 30 yards, it doesn't look great but when you're standing back and seeing five or six of their players surrounding the ref, for me I think I support my team-mates.

"And once I go, four or five go with me, it doesn't look good at all but that's part of the game. We'll match it if people want to mix it, that's part of our game as well.

"You have to stick up for your team-mates. Every other side is as bad as each other. It's part of the game."

Twice PSG came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw, 3-3 on aggregate, and advance to the quarter-finals as Chelsea were left to concentrate on the Premier League.

Chelsea are five points clear of second-placed Manchester City ahead of Sunday's clash with Southampton and have a game in hand on the holders.

"We have to pick ourselves up and go again at the weekend now," Terry said. "There's enough experience in the squad to rally round and get everyone going again.

"We've got the Capital One Cup in the pocket and the Premier League is a massive one to go for. The manager said then if we can win the Capital One Cup and the Premier League, it will be a very successful year.

"There is an awful lot to do but it's in our hands and we have to respond. We're a few points clear and we need to keep that gap and maintain it.

"We can only do that by responding and doing that the right way and coming back here and picking up three points. We've got another big game against a very good Southampton side.

"Southampton will come here playing on the front foot and, if we're not at it, we'll drop points and slip away in the Premier League."

Nine Chelsea players appealed to referee Bjorn Kuipers following Zlatan Ibrahimovic's tackle on Oscar © Getty Images

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