Pet sounds: Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has played
down his reference to 'pet' John Terry made on late night Italian
TV show 'Chiambretti Night'
Maybe it was the exotic atmosphere, maybe a word that
didn't translate so well but Chelsea captain
John Terry will have to live down his manager Carlo Ancelotti
calling him his 'pet' on a late night Italian TV satire
show.
Ancelotti, pictured looking a little mesmerised by a shapely lap
dancer - Jose Mouirinho and Fabio Capello have had similar
treatment in the past - did his best to put the record straight by
proclaiming that the England captain could go on playing till he's
40, like AC Milan's Paolo Maldini did.
Chelsea boss Ancelotti, obviously at a loose end during the
international break after going home to appear on Chiambretti Night, seemed a little
flustered that anybody could misunderstand his feelings.
'I don't know what ''pet'' means,' insisted the former Milan
coach. 'I have a lot of respect for John Terry. For all players who
have worked with me in the last year with great
professionalism.'
He repeated: 'I don't know what ''pet'' means. The programme
made a comparison with (Pippo) Inzaghi. Terry and Inzaghi. 'I
have respect for them all - for Terry, Inzaghi, Gattuso... all the
players who work with enthusiasm.'
Of course, Maldini, Inzaghi and Gattuso were all special to
Ancelotti in his time with AC Milan and now Terry bears comparisons
during the Italian's new career with Chelsea.
Teacher's pet: Ancelotti feels Terry can play on at
the top until he is 40 - much like Milan legend Paolo
Maldini
But try telling that to JT's team-mates! Though Terry appears a
much more physical player than Maldini, and so risks more
injuries, Ancelotti is sure he can join Paolo by playing until he
hits 40.
Ancelotti added: 'The careers of Maldini and John Terry are very
close in comparison. Not just in terms of their playing but
in terms of their professionalism.
Terrry can do this. He has no physical problems and a lot of
passion. and this is the most important thing to continue to
39 or 40.'
Ancelotti is calling for the same defensive discipline Premier
League leaders Chelsea showed in the win over
Liverpool - one of five clean sheets in their last
six games - for the early Saturday lunchtime clash at
Aston Villa.
He said: 'If we play like we did against Liverpool, we can win.
Play like we did at Wigan (losing 3-1), we'll have a problem.'