Terry can’t be left out, says Ranieri

CLAUDIO RANIERI admitted he simply cannot afford to leave John Terry out of any more crucial games after Watford exposed Chelsea’s defensive weaknesses to force an FA Cup third-round replay.

Ranieri defended veteran captain Marcel Desailly against growing criticism, with Match of the Day pundit Mark Lawrenson describing the French international as "creaking".

However, the club's acting chief executive Paul Smith has already admitted Chelsea's two main transfer targets are a central defender and a midfielder.