New signings get in tune with champions

CHELSEA captain John Terry has revealed how he forces any new superstar arrivals at Stamford Bridge to risk ridicule from their new team-mates by belting out a tune of their choice in an initiation ceremony.

The Premiership champions are bursting at the seams with an embarrassment of footballing riches to rival those of Roman Abramovich, who brought in Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack this summer.

And Terry, whose speciality is ‘My Old Man’s A Dustman’, is determined to get the new boys to fit in.

He said: “This is what these pre-season tours are all about. You are away from your family and it’s a chance for everybody to get to know each other. We’re in each other’s pockets for 24 hours a day. We certainly get to know each other, to find out what kind of personalities they are as well as on the pitch.

“We have a little tradition at the club that all new players have to do a song.

“(Salomon) Kalou gave us an absolutely terrible French song which was the Ivory Coast national anthem. There have been some shocking ones so far but hopefully that will improve.”

Ukraine international Shevchenko is under pressure now to deliver and Terry added: “Everybody has got to do it and Shever has got to get up later. I think he wants to wait a few days just to prepare something.”

The Chelsea players could be forgiven for feeling short on energy having been pushed to the limits as they train in the baking heat of California.

But Terry claims manager Jose Mourinho has sought the advice of the players in getting their preparation just right.

He added: “We’re lucky that the gaffer’s so good, he really understands the players as well. He doesn’t just say, ‘Come back in this day’. He wants to listen to the players as well, about how long we feel we need off. We all sat down and spoke with him before and after the World Cup. Even when we’re here we’re not training really, really hard.

“We’re getting the fitness slowly but surely. When the games start coming about we’ll be fit.

“It’s not all about running us into the ground. The last couple of days we’ve felt very good, it’s getting that sharpness back and hopefully the fitness will come with it.”

Terry also wants to make a noise in Europe this year and admits he would go to his grave considering his career was a failure should he fail to win the Champions League.

“It is very important to win the Champions League. It is something that we will be remembered for, for many years to come. We’re doing very well and we want to improve on that year after year.

“Every player in the squad is desperate for that and the chairman and manager’s ambition, with the players they have brought in, say it all. We all have that hunger and desire to win the competition.

“These players we have brought in have the experience in that competition so hopefully that will give us the edge.”