All behind Mourinho: Chelsea captain Terry

John Terry insists the players must shoulder the blame for Chelsea’s disastrous start to the campaign and is adamant the dressing room is fully behind under-fire manager Jose Mourinho.

The Chelsea captain believes the responsibility for ending the club’s dismal start to the season lies with the players.

And he dismissed claims some players were no longer willing to fight for Mourinho as ridiculous, including weekend reports one unnamed player had said he would rather lose a game than win for the manager.

Terry, who will lead the side into the Champions League group game with Dinamo Kiev, said: “We’ve not played well enough, and we take that on the shoulders. We know where we are in the league and the Champions League group, and we know what we need to do to get out of it. That relies on us, as players, not the players.

“It’s going to take a dressing room that stays together, sticks together. What we’ve seen in the last two or three days, ridiculous stories about what’s happening within the club and the dressing room.

“I can assure you the players are 100 percent behind the manager. We are together. Anyone who has been at the last three or four games can see the way we’re playing is turning.

“We weren’t good enough at the beginning of the season, but things are on the turn. And we’ve been unlucky not to get one or two results. We will turn things around.

– Disappointment –
“Together is the most important thing: that we stay together in that dressing room.”

Referring to the claim a player has said he would rather lose a game, the centre-back added: “Listen, in my whole football career I’ve never heard a player come out with those words.

“In my whole career. Whether it’s been going bad or really bad. It’s ridiculous I have to sit here and talk about it.

“I’ve seen players’ faces with the disappointment after results, the feeling we’ve let the club and the manager and the fans down.

“The player wouldn’t be let out of the dressing room, let’s be honest. It wouldn’t go down too well, would it.”

Terry has seen a succession of managers leave during the Roman Abramovich-era at Stamford Bridge but insists Mourinho will not be leaving any time soon.

He said: “It’s not going to come to that. The club have shown faith in the best manager with the best history at this club.

“In all aspects, of all the managers I’ve worked with, he’s by far and a long, long way, the best I’ve worked with. We are going to turn it around. No ifs, no buts.

“I’m sure, and I’m adamant, that we’ll turn this around and he’ll be in charge for the rest of the season and long after I’ve finished playing for this club. He is the man to take this club forward to where we want to be.”

Terry made it clear Chelsea need Mourinho and Eden Hazard – linked with a move to Real Madrid following his dramatic loss of form this season – to remain at the club.

He said: “I’m not saying it’s different (to when other managers have been sacked) because results speak for themselves. The table doesn’t lie. We know where we are.”

Terry’s own form has been criticised but he made it clear that while he respected the views of some former players, he was unwilling to accept criticism from former Leicester and Wales midfielder Robbie Savage.

He said:” I’ve come under criticism, individually, from certain players and individuals, players I’ve looked up to and played alongside. I’ve taken that on the chin: Rio (Ferdinand), Carra (Jamie Carragher), (Gary) Neville, the very best I’ve come up against in the game. I take that on the chin.

“When others speak, maybe I don’t take it on the chin. When players have not had a career, played at a really bad level in their career… Robbie Savage being one.

“He’s dug me out a couple of times. You take it as a footballer, as an individual. I’ll take it from the Rios, Carraghers and Neville. All day long. From others? Nah.”