EXCLUSIVE: John Terry’s next move has to be a Wise one

Scott Minto
5 Feb 2010

Carlo Ancelotti has been unequivocal in his support for John Terry this week. He is determined that the off-the-field stories surrounding his captain will not affect his, or the club's, quest for the Champions and Premier League titles.

The Chelsea boss has won a Serie A title in Italy and two Champions Leagues with AC Milan but I don't think he would ever have witnessed this kind of intense scrutiny about matters off the pitch before.

Problems in players' private lives are treated very differently in Italy and, despite being vastly experienced, there is no doubt the Terry situation is a massive test of Ancelotti's management skills.

He is well-known for being excellent in that department and he's going to need every one of those skills to try to block out any distractions and shield his captain from all the pressures that he will face.

Mind you, up until now, it seems once Terry steps onto the pitch, whether it be at training or a for a game, he hasn't let the controversy over his alleged affair with Wayne Bridge's former partner affect him.

Players will always try to carry on as normal. I remember when I was at Chelsea and our captain, Dennis Wise, was in danger of going to prison after an altercation with a taxi driver.

I wasn't studying him closely but he was definitely more pensive. You could tell that it was always in the back of his mind, even though he was still having a laugh and a joke.

There was a bit of banter about his situation but we were careful not to go over the top as we all knew what could happen if the verdict went the wrong way. However, he was just as loud and demanding of us as he'd ever been come matchdays.

There's no way you would have known what was going through his mind as the referee's whistle blew. Terry has been the same. His situation is arguably more sensitive than Wisey's was and I would doubt that there will be any mickey-taking going on in the dressing room.

The important thing for him now is, firstly, try to sort his personal problems, and secondly, not let what's going on affect him on the pitch.
Against Burnley last Saturday when the story first broke, he was magnificent. Not only did he score the winner but his defending was first class.

At Hull on Wednesday, he, like the rest of the team, was a little below-par. And instead of giving Phil Brown's team the credit, people were saying that the pressure was getting to Terry.

That's something the players, and JT in particular, will have to get used to unless they go on a long winning run.

There are only a handful of players who could put all this to one side and perform to the best of their ability and the England defender is one of them. His leadership skills are second to none and he has been a great Chelsea captain.

The timing of his meeting with Fabio Capello this afternoon at Wembley, though, is not great for Chelsea before such an important game against Arsenal on Sunday.

But then, maybe there is no such thing as a good time to be having face-to-face talks with an England captain with his future leadership on the line.

I'd be surprised if Capello makes his decision immediately, even though the indications are that he wants the situation resolved before he flies off to the Euro 2012 draw which takes place in Warsaw on Sunday.

Either way, Ancelotti can't worry about England, he must concentrate solely on Chelsea and how he lifts his skipper for such a huge match at the Bridge.

Doubtless, former manager Jose Mourinho would have turned the situation to his advantage by creating a siege mentality and gone on the offensive — Sir Alex Ferguson would do the same.

It will be interesting to see what Ancelotti does. With Terry, he will offer the arm around the shoulder only if he thinks it is required.

The Italian has already said he doesn't think he needs to treat JT any differently. So, it will be business as usual in terms of trying to prepare the team for the game against Arsenal.

The draw at Hull has cranked up the importance of Sunday's match. The Gunners are not out of the title race yet. Win, and Arsene Wenger's team are only three points behind the Blues — but lose and that gap is nine, one I don't believe Arsenal can make up.

A home defeat would make it a nervy time for Blues fans, especially with Manchester United starting to peak.

It's a big month, with important League games and a battle with Mourinho's Inter Milan coming up, and it is going to be a true test for Ancelotti on and off the pitch.