Chelsea vs Napoli preview - Player power claims a nonsense - Terry

Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2012 by PA

John Terry has accused Wojciech Szczesny and Luiz Felipe Scolari of talking "complete nonsense" about the Chelsea dressing room.

Terry rubbished Arsenal goalkeeper Szczesny's claim that Andre Villas-Boas' sacking as manager proved the Blues' players effectively ran the club.

Former Chelsea boss Scolari also warned Villas-Boas' successor "hell" awaited him because of the influence of the squad on owner Roman Abramovich.

Blues captain Terry hit back ahead of Chelsea's Champions League last-16 second leg against Napoli, saying: "We win and lose together at this club - we're all responsible for the results we have.

"As for the senior players running this football club, that's nonsense. That's just the perception from outside. Roman and the board make the decisions.

"On the football pitch, that can affect what happens upstairs of course. If we don't win matches, the board step in.

"People speculating from various different clubs or previous managers, that's complete nonsense."

With Terry sat next to caretaker manager Roberto Di Matteo during the pre-match press conference, it was no surprise to see almost every question posed to the deposed England captain.

This season has been turbulent in the extreme for Terry both on and off the field.

Chelsea's meltdown under Villas-Boas corresponded with Terry facing trial for racism - a charge he denies - and an injury that looked set to rule the defender out until April.

Asked about the difficulties of remaining focused, he said: "I think I've shown that with my performances, despite what's happening off the field.

"I know what I have to do for Chelsea. As captain, I'm very fortunate and privileged.

"If you had said 10 years ago that Robbie and I would be sitting here with such a big night coming up, we'd have probably laughed at you.

"But that's the reality. You won't find two other people who care more about the football club going into this game. We represent Chelsea.

"We give that fiery atmosphere in the dressing room and take it on to the pitch and hope everyone feeds off that."

Chelsea have no injury concerns but Raul Meireles is suspended.

The midfielder picked up his third yellow card of the season in the first leg three weeks ago and serves a one-match ban.

Napoli are determined not to fall into the same trap Arsenal sprung on AC Milan.

The Italians arrived in London holding a commanding 3-1 lead over the Blues.

Only a handful of teams have ever squandered a two-goal first-leg advantage in the competition but Walter Mazzarri's men were given a real wake-up call last week when Arsenal almost overturned a 4-0 deficit against Milan.

The Gunners' 3-0 win was not far from Mazzarri's mind as he prepared his side for their biggest European match for more than two decades.

"It's important we don't do anything different to what we usually do," Mazzarri said.

"If we changed the way we played, that would be a risk.

"But I don't think my team can underestimate the importance of a game like this."