Carlo Ancelotti Plays Down John Terry's Chelsea Exit Talk

Sources: Alan Dawson, Goal.com
14 Jul 2009 10:06:09

The new Blues boss, not yet in his third week occupying the Chelsea hotseat, wants to keep his important players together.


There are few one-club men left in the modern game and John Terry, a seemingly sturdy symbol of all things Chelsea, was long regarded as the modern embodiment of a dying sentiment. However, as Manchester City loomed ominously over Stamford Bridge with a cloud of financial clout, temptations may have been swayed.


Italian tactician Carlo Ancelotti, though, has today indicated that he hopes Terry will remain at the club, as he intends on keeping his "important" players together.


The former AC Milan manager, a trainer with grand pedigree in continental success both as a player and as a coach, has already overseen his first training sessions and has therefore begun to assess his squad.


The 50-year-old has singled out a spine of English talent as fundamental to the club's success; the captain Terry, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole have been included for special praise from Ancelotti.


Together with the aforementioned Anglican trident, a further trio - one of recruits - have been gaining press for their differing backgrounds and new responsibilities. When pressed as to how former Middlesbrough goalkeeper Ross Turnbull, highly-rated forward Daniel Sturridge, and Russian trickster Yuri Zhirkov, were coping with the rigours of life in west London, Ancelotti responded on the club's official website, "They work very well. They have a good relationship between the players, a very good team spirit.

"There are some players that are important for this team, [John] Terry, [Frank] Lampard, [Joe] Cole, very important."

Chelsea are about to leave for a potentially money-spinning tour of the United States. They face Seattle on Saturday.