No distraction for Terry, says Ancelotti

CARLO ANCELOTTI insists John Terry will not be distracted by the controversy over whether Wayne Bridge will shake his hand when Chelsea meet Manchester City at Stamford Bridge today.

But the Chelsea manager admitted the publicity surrounding the situation was unique in his footballing experience.

Ancelotti said: “John Terry is a professional. He doesn’t have a problem to look forward, to stay focused on the match. He has a very good mentality. He has had a fantastic season and he will do the same until the end of the season.

“I’m sure this will be Manchester City against Chelsea (rather than Terry v Bridge) so we have to pay attention, we have to stay in focus. Manchester City is a very good team. They have a lot of good players with strong quality, we have to think about this. No way will it distract the team. I don’t know how many people are interested in this. For sure not the players.”

But he did admit: “In Italy we have never had anything like this.”

For all Ancelotti’s support of Terry, however, he was clearly irritated at yesterday’s pre-match press conference by the persistent questions surrounding his captain in a month which has also seen Ashley Cole and his wife Cheryl separate amid more lurid headlines.

When asked whether he was surprised by Bridge’s decision to quit England, Ancelotti said: “I’m not surprised because it his personal decision. I respect his decision. It’s not my problem.”

Ancelotti also insisted he was not concerned about Terry’s form, even though he was blamed for Inter Milan’s opening goal as he produced a below-par display in Wednesday’s Champions League defeat.

He said: “He is doing good performances. I don’t see that his condition went down. I think he’s doing a good job for the team.”

Ancelotti was more interested in talking about how Chelsea could bounce back from their Champions League first leg defeat and go four points clear of Manchester United in the Premier League once more in today’s lunchtime kick-off (12.45pm).

“We were disappointed because it was not a good result (against Inter),” he said. “But I think other things were very good. We showed good mentality, very good personality and I think we have a good chance to win at Stamford Bridge.

“We also want to go four points clear of Manchester United. We know tomorrow will be a difficult game because the last game against Manchester City we lost.”

The match throws Ancelotti into battle once more with City manager Roberto Mancini, his former rival at the San Siro when Ancelotti managed AC Milan and Mancini Inter.

Despite City being knocked out of the FA Cup in midweek, Ancelotti said: “He has done a good job and I hope he will do the best for Manchester City. He is a very good coach.”

Hilario comes in for goalkeeper Petr Cech, who tore a calf muscle against Inter in midweek. Florent Malouda is expected to fill the problem left-back spot in Ashley Cole’s continued absence with a broken ankle.

Ancelotti stressed he has every confidence in his second-choice goalkeeper.