Chelsea skipper claims Blues are best in Europe
TERRY: WE'RE THE GREATEST
by ANDY DUNN
A DEFIANT John Terry has turned on Chelsea's critics, insisting: "We are one of Europe's greatest teams!"
The Stamford Bridge skipper clearly has the chance to prove it beyond any doubt in Moscow against Premier League champions Manchester United on Wednesday night.
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But Terry is adamant that the Blues are already on a par with European giants like Real Madrid and AC Milan whatever happens in this week's Champions' League Final.
Terry, 27, said: "Everybody else says you can't be considered a truly great side until you have won the Champions' League.
"But I don't agree with that. We are a great team already.
Smashed
"We have dominated English football in recent years — just look at the statistics.
"In the last four years, we've won two league titles and finished runners-up twice.
"We've won the FA Cup and the Carling Cup.
"We've not been beaten at home in the league in four years and we've smashed all sorts of Premier League and club records.
"So no-one's going to tell me you can enjoy all that success without being a great side."
Terry's defiance in the face of Chelsea's detractors makes the rugged defender all the more determined to end any further debate about the matter when the two juggernauts of the English game collide head-on in the Luzhniki Stadium.
He is matter-of-fact about settling the issue and said: "If winning this competition is what people on the outside say makes you great, then that's what we'll have to do."
Terry acknowledges it will be tough against a United side which edged his Chelsea team into runners-up spot for the second year running.
On the other hand, the Blues toppled United in last season's FA Cup Final at Wembley and saw off Sir Alex Ferguson's men at Stamford Bridge at the end of last month.
Favourites
But Terry says none of that will influence the outcome in the Russian capital come kick-off time.
He added: "None of what's gone on before matters in a game like this, it's what you do on the night that counts.
"We found that out in the semi-final — we were favourites to go through, but Liverpool still gave us a great game.
"It will be the same against United. It doesn't matter who the favourites are — it only matters who wins — and we know we are good enough to do just that."
Terry singles out 15-goal striker Didier Drogba as Chelsea's potential match-winner, just as he was in the FA Cup Final 12 months ago.
He added: "If Didier players the way we all know he can, then he can win any game.
"In recent weeks, he's come out on top against Arsenal's Kolo Toure and William Gallas, against Liverpool's Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel and against United's Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.
"Two of those guys, Vidic and Skrtel, had to go off because Didier is so strong and powerful. He's such a force and such a competitor.
"I know that better than anyone. In training, he is unplayable at times.
Form
"And everyone knows that when he's on top form he is as good as anyone in the world.
"Luckily for us, he's hit top form at just the right moment."
Terry's air of confidence illustrate that he believes he is a man who has a date with destiny — at last.
Three previous semi-finals all ended in defeat, but now Chelsea have finally made it through to Europe's showpiece showdown.
But reaching the final is still not enough for the man they call JT.
He says he will only wipe away the heartache from those earlier failures by actually lifting the game's biggest prize.
He said: "I certainly don't want to get carried away with what we have achieved so far.
"We have got to the final, but we still have to go there and win it.
"And only winning it will heal all those painful memories of getting so close to the one big trophy that's missing from our Chelsea collection."
History suggests you aren't one of the greatest!
Posted by: Sue | May 18, 2008 at 12:53 AM | Report this comment
we are gonna make history, not be part of it like a certain scouse club
i'd rather have a future than a past
Posted by: michael baynham | May 18, 2008 at 03:48 AM | Report this comment
Vidic had to go off because Drogba was so strong? WTF, he got a kick in the face from Drog. And when you watch the replay you can see him beginning to dive until he realizes that Vid is seriously hurt.
Posted by: Dublin Frank | May 18, 2008 at 05:25 AM | Report this comment
Although I detest Chelsea they are very similar to the "Great" Milan,Juve etc teams of the 80's and 90's.
Those teams also brought their way to success and played pretty uninspiring football along the way.
However they won things which is the important thing and are thus remembered as great teams.
Posted by: Keleth | May 18, 2008 at 09:07 AM | Report this comment
i hope that its a good final with plenty of goals, i cant see it though- both teams are well capable of cancelling each other out.
Both teams have spent big to reach the top, utd focusing on talent coming through, chelsea on talent that is.
Question: How long before the russian gets bored and leaves chelski in the red?
Posted by: man utd fan | May 18, 2008 at 09:39 AM | Report this comment
Great European side? to be compared with Madrid, Milan, Liverpool, Ajax and UTD what a laff. I have only just stopped the tears of laughter. Typical Chelsea a couple of good seasons and suddenly they think they can be compared with the greats who have done it decade after decade
Wake up Terry your dreaming
Posted by: Russ Wood | May 18, 2008 at 10:06 AM | Report this comment
As a gooner it hurts to say it but i will be a Man U fan for 90 mins on wednesday. Cant stand clubs who can only buy their success. Clubs should only be allowed to live within their income.
Posted by: Colin | May 18, 2008 at 11:49 AM | Report this comment
Just imagine the look on Peter Kenyon's dollar sign eyes if Chelsea win...vile. That Chelsea think they can buy their way into being on a par with Milan and Madrid is quite sick....Neutrals hate United but, supporting United is a vote for the love of football. Count me in.
Posted by: dan | May 18, 2008 at 01:16 PM | Report this comment
hmm...for this...these sort of detractors..the one posting above me...i so want us to stuff united and bring glory to the bridge...just because one has a history doesnt make them rightful owners of a cup...common chelsea sent these history waggers down with their hostory..and shut them up once and for all...hate us all u want..we dont care..
Posted by: zain | May 18, 2008 at 01:53 PM | Report this comment
But nowhere near as good as they should be considering they can buy who they want when they want without ever worrying whether the player will be a success because, if not, they can just get another one. Chelsea are a great team, but so what?
Posted by: Mark Frost | May 18, 2008 at 02:46 PM | Report this comment
I'm getting fed up with all these Manchester United fans going on about how Chelsea buy their success - Granted, Chelsea have spent heavily since the arrival of Roman in 2003 but that is because we needed to & the best part, because we can!!! Chelsea have actually only brought 4 players more than United since that summer. (Only talking about major players, not kids going straight into the reserves). & with regards to buying the league, United have the most expensive defender in the world in Rio. Then there was 30 million for Veron, 28 million for Rooney, 40+ million for Nani, Anderson & Hargreaves, 15 mil for Ronaldo, 12 for Saha, 18 for Carrick ... the list can go on & on, not forgetting Tevez, Evra, Park, Van der Saar etc.
If buying players to strenghten your team so they are better than last season, is buying the league, then so be it ... bring it on.
Posted by: Chelsea Fan | May 18, 2008 at 02:57 PM | Report this comment
I loathe Manchester United, but much as I hate to say it, I hope they obliterate Chavski in Moscow. I detest everything Chelsea stand for. Everything about them is plastic and manufactured - from the pathetic flags they dish out to their knuckle dragging fans in a laughable attempt to generate some sort of atmosphere, to the fake sense of pride and passion that their players project. I mean, Drogba kissing the Chelsea badge when he's made it clear that he wants to leave (and confessed to being close on more than one occasion previously) - what the hell is that all about?!?! Chelsea are akin to some spoilt, obnoxious brat that wants everything and wants it now. Their ludicrous bid for Torres says everything about them. They're arrogant, disrespectful and completely devoid of class and I for one hope Manchester United stuff them. The thought of them lifting that magnificent trophy makes me feel physically sick and it would be a truly sad day for football and everything that's right about our beloved game if it were to happen.
Posted by: Bob | May 18, 2008 at 05:18 PM | Report this comment
Bob, that has to be the best post i have ever had the blessing to read! Chelscum in a nutshell,
it kills me to say it but "come on you mankers"!
Posted by: Norwegian Gunner | May 18, 2008 at 06:51 PM | Report this comment
Cheers Norwegian Gunner! I just had to get it off my chest!!! I'm dreading the thought of old whisky swilling Sir Purple Nose doing one of his idiotic, celebratory touchline jigs (although his chewing gum lodging itself in his windpipe and a failed attempt at the heimlich manoeuvre by Carlos Queeroz would make it a little more palatable), but it would be ever so slightly preferable to the sight of 'Baron Greenback' Grant and Frank Lumplard embracing each other in some sort of 'that's revenge for all the 'injustices' we've had to face, because we're so hard done by, but now we're the greatest team in the world EVER' moments. Just about the lesser of two evils in my opinion...
Posted by: Bob | May 19, 2008 at 03:55 PM | Report this comment
The only way Chelsea can win the Champions League final is if they shoot at waist high like the have doing over the past few games in the hope that someone goe's to clear the ball and ends up putting it in his own net remember the Liverpool game or try to claim a penalty if the ball hits someone on the hip, arm or hand and claim another pentalty that way, remember the last min in the Manu game. Chelsea are not a bad team but there not great either.
Posted by: Colin | May 19, 2008 at 05:22 PM | Report this comment
Vidic and Skrtel, had to go off because Didier is so strong and powerful. Huarghahaha...Dis Chelsea's captain jOking Or wat
Posted by: OBrascO | May 20, 2008 at 08:42 AM | Report this comment