Uefa Cup: Chelsea defender backs absent team-mates

John Terry has backed his Chelsea team-mates who opted out of the Uefa Cup tie in Israel because of fears over the threat of terrorist attacks.

The Blues gave all their players the option to miss the first leg of their second round clash against Hapoel Tel Aviv - and six of them took it up.

Skipper Marcel Desailly, who has an Achilles injury, headed the list of absentees, along with Emmanuel Petit, Graeme Le Saux, Eidur Gudjohnsen, William Gallas and Albert Ferrer.

England Under-21 skipper Terry said: "I totally respect those players who decided not to make the trip. Most of them have families or children to worry about. Eidur's girlfriend is pregnant and I believe so is Manu Petit's partner.

"My family kept ringing me up and asking if I was going. Of course they were worried, but there was never a problem as far as I was concerned.

"I was always convinced it would be safe and I was always going to come. I've read stuff, watched the news and Chelsea gave us the opportunity to make up our own minds.

"Once we're out there, warming up for the game, everything else will go out of our minds. We will just be focused on the match and hopefully be left to get on with it."

Chelsea should have enough talent to overcome the Israeli minnows in both legs, but Terry said he felt the team would miss the presence of Icelandic striker Gudjohnsen, who scored three goals in the two-legged victory over Levski Sofia in the first round.

"We will miss Eidur," said Terry. "He has been brilliant this season, but we have a big enough squad to cope and it's a great opportunity for some of the youngsters who have come out here with us.

Chelsea's arrival at Ben Gurion airport yesterday afternoon was very low key. There were just a couple of armed policemen waiting to greet the team, plus several fans and local media.

Chelsea's 21-man squad for this trip includes seven players from the reserve and youth ranks, and with a shortage of senior defenders there may be a surprise debut for 17-year-old Joel Kitamirike.