• Premier League

Ancelotti backs under-fire Terry

ESPN Soccernet staff
February 6, 2010
Carlo Ancelotti reasoned John Terry's current situation by saying: "He didn't kill anybody" © Getty Images
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Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has thrown his support behind under-fire John Terry, after the Blues skipper was stripped of the England captaincy by Fabio Capello on Friday, insisting that he is a "very strong character".

Capello relieved Terry of his duties following a week of furore over the defender's alleged affair with former Chelsea team-mate Wayne Bridge's ex-girlfriend Vanessa Perroncel.

The England boss delivered the news to Terry at a brief meeting inside Wembley Stadium on Friday afternoon after summoning the 29-year-old to discuss the lurid headlines of the past week. But while one Italian stripped Terry of the captain's armband, fellow countryman Carlo Ancelotti was standing solidly behind his club captain.

"If the private life of one player doesn't involve or impinge upon his professional life, I don't have a problem,'' Ancelotti said. "If John comes to the training ground but is not able to train because he's tired or nervous, I can be interested then.

"But he comes here and trains very well. He's always ready to train, always focused, always involved. He didn't kill anybody. Here, he will find a good place to stay.

"I think that he is able to leave his problems outside the training ground. For this, he has a very good behaviour. He's shown his character. He is a very strong character. Every coach would like to train a player like John Terry, who can train without problems with his attitude.

"I want to support John. We want to support John. It's not an easy moment for him, I think. But nothing else. I have a very good relationship with John in the training ground. I'm not interested in anything else. I'm not interested in the private life of anybody.

"I train a club and Capello trains a national team. That could be different. To maintain the captain as John Terry at Chelsea is my decision.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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