Terry admits relief after foot injury KO scare

CAPTAIN John Terry will lead Chelsea out against Portsmouth at Wembley after being “scared” by an injury setback that threatened to destroy his dream of winning the double.

The Chelsea defender hurt his right foot in a clash with reserve striker Daniel Sturridge in training on Wednesday but scans ruled out fears he had broken his metatarsal.

Terry came through a training session with no ill-effects yesterday but admitted he had been “scared” by the injury ahead of the FA Cup final and the World Cup.

“It was sorted out in a couple of hours but I was a bit scared, I must say,” said Terry.

“I was just running back to goal and Daniel fell on top of me. My foot was caught underneath. I thought it was quite bad initially. But once I had the scan, it was just bruising and today there was no problem at all.

“I was delighted when I got the scan results and there was no ligament damage or anything like that. It was just a bit of bruising inside the foot so no problem at all.”

Terry stands on the brink of being only the seventh captain in the history of the game to achieve the double but he says it still will not make up for failing to win the Champions League with the Blues.

Terry’s penalty miss against Manchester United two years ago cost them Europe’s top competition and the England defender is still hurt by it.

“Nothing will ever make up for Moscow unless we go and win the Champions League in my lifetime,” said Terry. “That’s a fact.

“But we have got a chance to go down in the club’s history, the double has never been done before at this club and we have a great chance to do it.”

Coach Carlo Ancelotti was delighted Terry came through their training session without any problems.

“John Terry had a problem yesterday on his foot,” said Ancelotti. “But today trained well without problem. He is fit and ready to play on Saturday.”

Ancelotti believes Chelsea have a great opportunity to make club history but he will not be taking Avram Grant’s side lightly.

“For us it is a great opportunity to win the double – the first time for this club and we can do it,” said Ancelotti. “It is the most important game and we have to have respect for Portsmouth.

“Avram is a very good coach. He was here for Chelsea for one year and played in finals with this club. He has done a very good job this year with Portsmouth.

“But Chelsea is a great club without this Premier League and the FA Cup – they are one of the most important clubs in the world without these two trophies.

“I have pressure because the double is very important for this club, but I have pressure before every game.”

Chelsea will train on Wembley’s newly-laid pitch today and Ancelotti, one of the few managers not to have complained about the surface after the semi-finals, remains unconcerned.

“I am not worried,” he said. “I don’t think this a problem for us or Portsmouth.”

Ancelotti confirmed he will sit down with the club’s board at the end of the season to discuss summer transfer plans, but he is not expecting to make demands for new players.

“We will have a meeting after this game and take a decision about the future,” he said. “I don’t need to have a gift for me.”