Stepping up: Terry did the majority of the talking in
the Chelsea press conference
Alongside the emasculated figure of Roberto Di
Matteo, John Terry finally took charge of Chelsea
on Tuesday night.
It certainly seemed like that; certainly seemed like the
senior players had seized control on the eve of what could be their
last chance to win the Champions League together. A real
win-or-bust situation.
Terry denied it, on more than one occasion. 'Completely
untrue,' he said. But how telling that, in repeatedly insisting
Roman Abramovich and the board 'make the decisions', at no point
did he mention the manager.
The manager, in Di Matteo's case the interim manager, was
'Robbie', an old colleague and an old mate. Even if it might be
stretching it a bit to suggest these two are actually fond of one
another.
This, however, is Chelsea's reality as they endeavour to
battle back from that 3-1 defeat in Naples and progress to the last
eight of a competition that has proved so painful for
them.
They are a club in crisis, in the midst of chaos,
managerless, rudderless and yet somehow the one remaining English
side in the Champions League and a side locked in battle with
Tottenham and Arsenal for the chance to pursue the European Cup
next season.
It probably explains why Terry put himself up for
interview. Never has the modern Chelsea needed Mr Chelsea more and
he answered their call despite the storm of controversy that
continues to rage around him.
Despite the fact that a press conference where he might
have to face some difficult questions was probably the last place
he wanted to be.
But it was embarrassing for Di Matteo, reduced at Stamford
Bridge to a bit-part player on what should have been the pinnacle
of his managerial career.
He received only one question in English, all the others -
all 14 or 15 of them - were directed at a man who has not given a
press conference since he was stripped of the England captaincy for
a second time.
By the end Di Matteo was staring into space, no doubt
wondering why he agreed to share the podium.
This will play to a theory that has even been put forward
by Wojciech Szczesny, the Arsenal goalkeeper who has suggested the
senior players run Chelsea.
'Nonsense,' insisted Terry again, before insisting 'Robbie
and the boys' had prepared the team for this evening's
encounter.
'I know everyone keeps harping on about the senior players
making the decisions here but, honestly, it's not the case,' added
Terry. 'The board and the owner make the decisions
completely.'
We get the picture.