Chelsea captain John Terry roars out a warning for Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson

Manchester United's interchangeable trio have scored 76 goals this season, swatting rivals aside and sweeping into the Champions League Final.

Last stop Moscow, via the JJB Stadium mudpath. But Chelsea will be waiting and John Terry is in unforgiving mood after a season punctuated by injury, doubts over his international future under Fabio Capello and the thorny issue of the England captaincy.

He is answering them all emphatically. Were you watching at St James' Park, Fabio? It was a Bank Holiday, but you certainly should have been.

Chelsea's defence have kept 18 Premier League clean sheets under Avram Grant. Throw in another 11 in cup competitions and United's holy trinity can start saying their prayers.

There are no guarantees they will be answered, though. When Grant puts out the cones at Chelsea's swish Surrey training ground and says: 'It's attack versus defence today, guys', even their own strikers suddenly become shrinking violets.

No one wants to face Terry and not just his team-mates. At Newcastle he was back to his best, barking instructions and berating the management when Ricardo Carvalho hobbled off with a back injury.

Two Premier League winner's medals are on display at his Cobham mansion. He wants a third, more than any other Chelsea player.

Who is in charge of this team? Sometimes it is hard to tell. 'I'm proud of my players,' purred Terry after they emerged from their Champions League semifinal with Liverpool with their place in Moscow secured. That says it all.

When Chelsea's central defensive pairing are fit, they are the envy of world football. Carles Puyol and Gabriel Milito? Powder puffs by comparison.

Ivan Cordoba and Marco Materazzi? High up the list, but still haunted by Liverpool.

Hold on, how about Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic? Both were named in the PFA team of the year — the ultimate accolade among the Premier League professionals — but they would not get in this Chelsea team. You think Terry would allow it? No chance.

This was very nearly the complete defensive performance.

Terry cleared off the line from Michael Owen, hit the crossbar with a header and frequently reminded his team that the title was on the line yesterday.

He cannot influence United's result at Wigan on Sunday, but there were subtle reminders for Steve Bruce. 'Wigan are on a great run, they came to Stamford Bridge and put on a very good performance.

'They'll do the P remier League justice and go out there wanting to beat Manchester United. We've worked our socks off all year, so we would be disappointed if they didn't.

'Wigan are safe now and with a great manager like Steve Bruce, they're going to go for it.'

Terry knows that the title game is almost up. But he will never give up hope, not until the last ball has been kicked at the JJB and Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The European Cup is still to play for, however.

To lift the trophy on May 21, he will need Carvalho alongside him.

Chelsea require pedigree to see off United's thoroughbreds. Get past Terry or Carvalho and they still have the formidable presence of Petr Cech.

That trio have done their bit in this title race, overhauling Arsenal and taking United to the last kick of the season.

'We needed to win to put the pressure on United,' added Terry. 'We've said all along that all we can do is our job. We were a bit slow in the first half at times and we got a bit of a rollicking at half-time.'

Grant takes the credit. Terry just takes it in his stride.