Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given says he fails to
understand why Chelsea fans booed Wayne Bridge before Saturday's
Stamford Bridge clash.
However much they want it to, it seems the
stigma surrounding Terry and Bridge is not going to die down for a
little while yet.
After the Premier League meeting between the Blues and City,
Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Mancini attempted to draw a line under
the whole saga.
Others are not quite so keen. Given bemoaned the reception
Bridge received at his former club, while pundit Alan Shearer
called for the full-back to reverse the decision to turn his back
on England.
And Craig Bellamy ignited his own personal feud with Terry with
a devastating broadside.
"Everybody in football knows what the guy is like. But that's
off the field," declared Bellamy after his two-goal salvo in an
extraordinary 4-2 win for City against the Premier League
leaders.
Yet even the merest hint of criticism aimed at their hero seems
to upset the Chelsea faithful.
After declaring there was no chance Terry would captain England
again, Fabio Capello would presumably get jeered.
There can be no other explanation for Bridge - a former Chelsea
player - being so mercilessly booed after the most famous handshake
snub football has ever known.
"I don't know why the crowd reacted the way it did," said a
bemused Given. "I don't see what he has done wrong."
It is a fairly poor state of affairs if an alleged dalliance
between the mother of your son and a one-time close friend,
followed by a personal decision to step down for World Cup duty to
benefit England as a whole, results in jeers.
That is what happened, though. And now that it has, as a former
England captain, Shearer hopes Bridge will reconsider.
"I fully understand why he does not want to be considered for
next week's squad," said the former Three Lions skipper.
"I just hope in 10 years' time he doesn't regret not going to
the World Cup.
"In time, the hurt might reduce and I think he should
reconsider."
Once Wednesday's friendly with Egypt is out of the way, Capello
is intent on persuading Bridge to do just that.
In the meantime, the Italian might take some time to lift the
spirits of Terry, who, after initially responding with fortitude to
the maelstrom that erupted around him, has now suffered a major dip
in form.
Ancelotti absolved Terry from any blame for Saturday's debacle,
although, as he did the same for goalkeeper Hilario, that is not
necessarily an accurate reflection of events.
At best, the defender's performances are lacking conviction,
which, given leading from the front is such an integral part of his
game, is a fairly significant drawback.
If that was Ancelotti's only problem, he could get away with
emerging from a game in which his side surrendered an early lead, a
37-match unbeaten home record and two of their players to red
cards, by citing Chelsea's single-point advantage over Manchester
United as reason enough to be cheerful.
But there are a few others, which go far beyond the fact
Arsenal, now only one win adrift, have a significantly easier
run-in to negotiate.
"We have to maintain trust in our quality," said Ancelotti.
"We knew how important this match was but we didn't play well.
We have to avoid these kind of mistakes in the future."
As one of the mistakes involved Michael Ballack - who had
already been booked - crashing straight into the back of Carlos
Tevez, a lack of discipline can be claimed.
Ballack and Juliano Belletti will now not figure in Sunday's FA
Cup quarter-final against Stoke.
Hilario presumably will, making the next four weeks as Petr Cech
recovers from a calf problem a time for trepidation.
"I do not want to criticise Hilario," said Ancelotti, knowing
the Portugal keeper is bound to be singled out for City's first two
goals, which changed the course of a game that for 40 minutes
looked certain to end in a home victory.
The form of Joe Cole continues to cause concern, too, in
addition to that of John Obi Mikel.
Meanwhile, United and Arsenal are rapping at the door, demanding
to be let in.
"It is more difficult than it was but we are still one point in
front. We have to remember that," added Ancelotti.
