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The forgiven and the unforgiveable
Ken Dyer, Football Correspondent, in Moscow22.05.08
Avram Grant today insisted John Terry is still his 'Captain Fantastic' and should not be blamed for Chelsea's heartbreaking shoot-out defeat by Manchester United.
The Israeli's words of consolation came as it emerged that the England centre-half would not have been taking a spot-kick if striker Didier Drogba had stayed on the pitch during extra-time of last night's Champions League Final here.
The Ivorian, who is Chelsea's top scorer in Europe this season, was needlessly sent off for slapping United's Nemanja Vidic, which ruled him out of the post-match climax. Terry fluffed the chance to win the trophy for Chelsea by slipping and hitting the post with his side's fifth penalty, leaving United keeper Edwin van der Sar to be the hero by saving a later effort from Nicolas Anelka.
Chelsea assistant coach Henk Ten Cate confirmed Terry was not originally one of the first five penalty takers. He said: "He was not in the first five when it comes to taking them."
Terry broke down in tears after United sealed the club's third European Cup triumph but Grant was quick to embrace the crestfallen defender and offer a public display of support.
Grant said: "Terry was very sad and he cried, but he is the main reason we are here. He was there whenever we needed him and he took the responsibility today with the last penalty. He was fantastic."
Ten Cate was also full of sympathy for Terry, who had been outstanding as Chelsea bravely fought back from 1-0 down.
He said: "It was unbelievable. He just slipped. We practised penalties in training last week and he was so confident - he took them all very well. So we were pretty confident."
Van der Sar, who had dived the wrong way as Terry's penalty struck the outside of the post, admitted his side got lucky.
The 37-year-old Dutchman said: "If it wasn't for the slip by John Terry, it would have been all over. You don't necessarily have to be a striker to take a good penalty. It's our luck that he slipped. If he had scored it would have been all over."
Terry's England central defensive partner Rio Ferdinand reckons United deserved their fortune in the shoot-out, having lost the 2007 FA Cup Final to Chelsea in extra time.
He said: "Of course I feel for John, but someone has to be the loser on the day and this time it was them. Don't forget that in the FA Cup Final it was us that got beat so this time the boot is on the other foot.
"When JT stepped up, I thought it was all over because he is a good penalty taker. He's taken them in training for England and I've seen him take one in a shoot-out. It was unfortunate he slipped but we won the game so I'm delighted.
"Playing for Manchester United is an achievement in itself but being lucky enough to go up there and be one of the players to lift the trophy puts it into another stratosphere."
A third failure to win a major trophy this season has left Grant's position as Chelsea manager in doubt, but he refused to comment on his future after the game.
