Premiership: Petit - I'm happy at Chelsea

Midfielder Emmanuel Petit pledged his long-term commitment to Chelsea as he looked ahead to an enticing FA Cup final against his former club Arsenal.

Chelsea not only booked a final spot in Cardiff with a 1-0 win against local rivals Fulham at Villa Park last night but also sealed European qualification for next season for both themselves, Leeds and Newcastle.

Centre-back John Terry was the Blues’ matchwinner as he repaid boss Claudio Ranieri for his faith amid a season of off-pitch controversy with a 41st-minute deflected strike and towering defensive display.

There was one sour note as Graeme Le Saux was carried off after just three minutes with a recurrence of a calf injury that could yet rule him out of the first all-London final for 20 years.

However, while boss Claudio Ranieri described Terry and Marcel Desailly as ‘‘fantastic’’, he added that Petit was the impenetrable ‘‘wall’’ ahead of them in central midfield.

The France international was relieved to have consigned memories of Chelsea’s Worthington Cup semi-final defeat by Tottenham earlier this season to the past.

Now he is determined to ensure Chelsea prevent Arsenal, with whom he won the Double in 1998, from repeating the feat this season after the Gunners’ own semi-final win against Middlesbrough.

Petit said: ‘‘I think it’s going to be a big game for both clubs and for me as well.

‘‘I’m also very happy to be in a final after we missed a final in the Worthington Cup. I’m really pleased for the fans.’’

The Frenchman took time to settle at Chelsea after his summer move from Barcelona, with some reports having recently quoted him expressing doubts about his future at the club.

However, he insisted: ‘‘I have never said that I wasn’t happy at Chelsea.

‘‘The first six months here were difficult for me but since I’ve recovered from my injury, I’ve been very happy and everyone can see that out on the pitch.’’

Petit told Chelsea TV: ‘‘We are in the FA Cup final and are close to qualifying for the Champions League so it’s not a bad season at all.

‘‘But I think we can do even better next season if we can bring in three or four more players.’’

Ranieri added: ‘‘The final is an important game for him. Frank Lampard has also improved a lot this season after playing alongside a big man like Manu.’’

Despite Petit’s influence, the winner was still struck by 21-year-old Terry, whose acrobatic volley had earlier been tipped over the crossbar by Edwin van der Sar.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s corner rebounded off Mario Melchiot to Terry, who was lurking at the near post, and his finish was inadvertently deflected into his own net by Louis Saha.

Fulham upped their tempo significantly after the break but Chelsea held firm, with Eidur Gudjohnsen missing two clear chances to seal the game.

Chairman Ken Bates admitted: ‘‘We didn’t play well at all but we won and that’s the sign of a good team.’’

The 1-0 win ensured Chelsea will at least be in the UEFA Cup next season but Ranieri insisted his side should not rest on their laurels.

The Chelsea boss, who wants to complete a treble after previously winning cups in Italy and Spain, declared: ‘‘I still want to improve on last season and finish in the top four.

‘‘We have two league matches against Manchester United and Middlesbrough before the final and although we’re in Europe now, I don’t want the players to switch off and only think about that.

‘‘There’s a lot of pride at stake and there’s a saying in Italy that you don’t sell the skin of the bear before you shoot it.’’