Carlo Ancelotti has indicated that he expects John Terry to make a public declaration that he will stay at Chelsea within the next few days.
“I think that in one week nobody will have a problem about John Terry,” the Chelsea manager said. “John wants to stay in Chelsea and Chelsea want John Terry to be captain for more years.”
Roman Abramovich and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon are both in the United States for Chelsea’s pre-season tour that includes a match against Inter Milan in Pasadena, California, this evening. Chelsea have offered Terry a new contract, even though the 28-year-old has three years left on his present deal, which is worth £130,000-a-week, and the strong indications are he will sign.
Michael Ballack will be absent against Inter – the German midfielder returned to England last night after suffering a toe injury which has ruled him out of the rest of this tour - but Terry is central to Ancelotti’s plans. The new Chelsea manager maintained the defender has not been distracted by Manchester City’s bold attempts to sign him. “No, for John, it is not a distraction this question because he is very concentrated and focused,” Ancelotti said.
He also brushed aside suggestions that Chelsea may report City for allegedly tapping-up Terry. No, there is no problem. If Manchester City want to improve and buy the best players,” Ancelotti said. “It is normal because he is a great player and all teams want to buy a great player. These are normal questions but he stays in the same team because he is a captain for Chelsea, it is impossible to sell John Terry.”
Ancelotti said that player-loyalty – a big factor at his previous club, AC Milan – was an important factor for him. “It is very important because Terry like Ashley Cole, Lampard, Drogba is a very important player,” he said. “Not only as players but as men, they are great men and they present an example for other players. This is very important for the club.”
Ancelotti claimed that his relationship with Inter coach Jose Mourinho was not as bad as has been portrayed. “This is no problem,” he claimed. “He is a colleague, Mourinho, and a very good trainer of another team. Last year we had some problems but not big problems.”
However the two did clash when they faced each other in Italy last season. “The press, some interviews, but not a big problem,” Ancelott said. “It was a joke, not a serious question, and now is the same. He is not my friend, but for me it is not a big problem. If you want to be my friend it is the same.”
Ancelotti reiterated his intention to change things at Chelsea from the Mourinho era, however. “I want to do my work for Chelsea and want to do …we have a different way,” he said.
“It can be that during the season we have to play against Inter. It is normal this. I want to win, not against Mourinho or Inter but for the fans, the players, for me, because I enjoy to win. We want to win because we will be happy.”
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