Terry, Drogba major doubts for Moscow

JOHN TERRY is adamant he will be fit to play in the Champions League Final but his manager sounded a more cautious note as Chelsea licked their wounds after losing out on the Premier League title.

There were fears Terry had broken his left arm when he fell awkwardly to the ground following a 13th-minute aerial challenge with Petr Cech and Kevin Davies during the 1-1 draw with Bolton.

But Chelsea’s own medical staffed diagnosed a dislocated elbow, and popped the bone back into place before he was even whisked to hospital for scans.

The England defender was back at Stamford Bridge before the end of the half-time break and fit enough to address supporters at the final whistle.

Wearing a sling on his arm he said: “I’m okay, I dislocated my elbow in the first half but there’s no broken bone so I’ll be ok to go to Moscow.

“I know we’ve lost out on the league but now we’ve got the biggest trophy of all so hopefully we can go to Moscow and bring it home.”

Chelsea manager Avram Grant was more cautious in his diagnosis, although he realises it would take a brave man to tell the fearless defender he cannot play in Moscow.

Grant said: “John didn’t break anything but we need to wait and see. We will know in a few days. He is strong enough to recover but you never know. We have 10 days until the final so we have time to take the decision.

“If you look at it from the point of character there is no problem but we also need to see if he is fit to play.”

Chelsea also have a major concern over Drogba, who hobbled through the team’s lap of honour after the final whistle with his knee heavily bandaged.

Grant said: “He had a click in his knee 10 minutes from the end but did everything to finish the game because we had used all our substitutes. It doesn’t look so good but we’ll see.”

Grant refused to accept finishing second in the Premier League is a disappointment for Chelsea who always knew the outcome was never in their own hands.

United knew they only had to match Chelsea’s result to win the title because although both teams went into the final day on 84 points Alex Ferguson’s side had a far superior goal difference.

In the end even that wasn’t required as Matt Taylor’s late goal equalised Andriy Shevchenko’s opener at Stamford Bridge and United won 2-0 at Wigan.

Grant said: “I want to congratulate Manchester United. They had a great season and I have sent a message to Alex Ferguson congratulating him. He is a great manager and a great person. I like him personally. I wished him all the best.

“It is amazing what he has done. I remember at the start when he had problems so it is an amazing achievement.”

But the Israeli is confident, despite so many injury concerns, that his team have enough character to re-group and win the Champions League.

He said: “When you come to the final of the Champions League you want very much to win. We wanted to win the league as well but it was never, never even for one minute, in our own hands.

“In the last month we played good football and developed our game. Now we come to the final. It’s the last game of the season, it’s a game we was dreaming to be in. We want to win.”

The club’s billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, missing from Stamford Bridge in recent matches, also paid the team a dressing-room visit after the game and Grant admitted: “We are always happy to see him.

“He congratulated everybody for what they have done this season. We have finished the league and now we are waiting for a game we have dreamed about. We don’t want to go the final to be part of it, we want to win it.”

Bolton manager Gary Megson revealed there is money for him to spend on strengthening his squad in the summer.

“I’ve been here 28 games and I’ve never once complained about them throwing the towel in,” said Megson.

“We have got problems that need sorting out but I am delighted we can sort them out as a Premier League club. I am extremely pleased with all the lads.”

Window shopping

How Chelsea could grow even stronger this summer.

Lionel Messi (£60m): A fantasy signing, perhaps, but Chelsea’s interest is real enough and nobody could give the Argentine the sort of wages on offer at Stamford Bridge.

Roman Abramovich sees the Barcelona playmaker as integral to his sporting vision, although whether Barca would be prepared to sell is unlikely. A move for Kaka also fits this category of dream buy.

David Villa (£20m): The Valencia striker is also wanted by Tottenham, but Chelsea can offer Champions League football and more money, so would be in pole position to secure his services. With Didier Drogba set to leave, regardless of what happens in Moscow, the Blues need more firepower and Villa can offer it.

Sergio Ramos (£20m): The Real Madrid right-back is much coveted by Chelsea, who have been struggling to fill the position for years. The Spanish champions would be very reluctant to lose one of their most prized talents but, once again, the money on offer could tip the balance in west London’s favour. Daniel Alves is also a long-standing target in this area.

Samuel Eto’o (£15m): Has already decided to leave Barcelona after one bust-up too many with his team-mates and the Catalan hierarchy, and would relish a move to the Premier League. Spurs, once again, are also in the race to sign him but would the Cameroonian really be content with UEFA Cup football?