easily brushed off as something any Captain would say at this time but if he'd said the opposite I dare say it would be quoted as Gospel.

John Terry says Chelsea should 'man up' to save Carlo Ancelotti's job• Chelsea captain calls for stabilty at club

• Copenhagen playing first competitive game since December

Share Dominic Fifield in Copenhagen guardian.co.uk, Monday 21 February 2011 21.33 GMT Article history

John Terry backed the Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti, before their Champions League game at FC Copenhagen. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images

John Terry has flung his support behind the Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti, and urged his team-mates to "man up and take responsibility" to ensure their season does not peter out in a "disastrous" failure to qualify for the Champions League.

The reigning league champions, eliminated from the FA Cup and a distant 12 points from Manchester United in the title race, confront FC Copenhagen at the Parken Stadium on Tuesday with pressure intensifying on Ancelotti to revive a campaign that has nosedived spectacularly in the past three months. The Italian defiantly warned that Chelsea were very much "still alive", with Terry's public show of support an apparent plea to the owner, Roman Abramovich, not to dismiss the manager in the summer.

"All the players, and everyone involved in the club, have called for stability and we've got that with Carlo," said Terry, who has worked under seven coaches at the club. "He's a great guy, a great manager. The players are 100% behind the manager. He's got complete confidence in us, and we do with him. We know we've underachieved, but this team still has its hunger and its desire. We missed out on the Premier League for three years when United won it, but that's what I lose sleep over: watching other clubs lift trophies.

"It's been difficult in this run. At times we've shown our quality, and we picked up good away wins at Bolton and Sunderland recently and thought that was a turning point. If we'd beaten Liverpool we could have gone on a good run and got back into it, but that didn't happen. Now we have to man up and, as a group of players, take responsibility. It needs to happen now. We've had bad times before and we've always come out the other end, so we aim to stay together as a team and start winning."

Ancelotti, whose contract at Stamford Bridge runs until the summer of 2012, has cut an isolated figure at times over recent months, shorn of his assistant Ray Wilkins in November and unable to arrest a decline that has resulted in five wins in the team's past 16 matches. Terry admitted Wilkins had been "a massive asset to the club who brought a lot to us, and was brilliant at what he did", though he rejected suggestions that his abrupt departure had served to destabilise the players.

The Champions League has been left as his team's most credible route to silverware though Ancelotti – who will start his £50m forward Fernando Torres – retains hope that the campaign could yet end in triumph. He endured similar difficulties at Milan in 2007 when he finished 36 points behind the champions, Internazionale, but claimed the European Cup in Athens at Liverpool's expense.

"This season is not finished," he said. "I've coped with moments like this before. In 2007 it was the same situation, so I should remind you that this could still be the best season that we have had in memory. Maybe it could, alternatively, be the worst. Chelsea has not died. It's still alive."

If the Italian is to breathe life back into his tenure as manager, this team must revive and progress beyond Copenhagen in the Champions League and recover their poise at home to secure a top-four finish. Tottenham Hotspur travel to Blackpool on Tuesday with Chelsea, now fifth, aware they could be five points adrift of the top four by the time they entertain United next Tuesday.

"The worst thing is looking at Spurs and [Manchester] City and seeing them playing well and picking up points," said Terry. "It would be disastrous if we didn't qualify for the Champions League. It's hard to get my head around that possibility even thinking about it now. But, as the manager says, this season is not over. Even if we lost to United on Tuesday, we'd have to think about finishing in the top three.

"We aimed to retain the trophies we'd won last season, but maybe us being knocked out of the FA Cup and behind in the title race could be a blessing in disguise when it comes to the Champions League. We're determined enough. This is our main focus now."

Copenhagen will be awkward opponents despite not having played a competitive match since their final group game against Panathinaikos in December. They retired for the Danish midwinter break 19 points clear at the top of their domestic league and were arguably unfortunate only to draw with Barcelona here in November

Of course he'd say something like that. What else would you expect.

I'm sick and tired of Ancelotti and our players talking a good game and then failing on a pitch where it really matters. Enough with the speeches, just do your job.

Of course he'd say something like that. What else would you expect.

I'm sick and tired of Ancelotti and our players talking a good game and then failing on a pitch where it really matters. Enough with the speeches, just do your job.

You got me there...

Did you read what I put at the top of the artical, I know I'll go and find one from Goal.com with Lampard slagginng the manager off and saying the players are not behind him, that should go down better.

Lets hope they do 'man up' and have listened to there captain.

It's a positive move to hear some words of current state of affairs from JT, a rallying cry, an honest statement, call it what you will. If nothing had been said we'd soon hear the 'Carlo's lost the dressing room' stories starting to surface.

C'mon Chels this could still be a season where we claim that Euro tin pot. All systems go for tomorrow, stay positive.

Edited February 21, 201115 yr by Scooby Blue

You got me there...

Did you read what I put at the top of the artical, I know I'll go and find one from Goal.com with Lampard slagginng the manager off and saying the players are not behind him, that should go down better.

I'm not mad at you Chippy for posting an article. Yes, I guess it's good news that the captain supports the manager, I get it.

I've just fed up with the players/manager professing their commitment to turn things around and then repeatedly letting the fans down. It's been going on for too long this season. I say, just shut up already and start winning games. For the team with the highest wage bill in the country most of the performances have been nothing short of embarrassing. Everyone and their mother are having a ball taking shots at us, there's no team left in a country that doesn't think they've got no chance against this Chelsea side, and it's disheartening to see these highly paid pros not putting enough effort game after game.

For so many experienced players in the midst this squad curiously lacks leadership. Apart from Jt ,Big Pete and Brana no one can hold their up high after what we've witnessed last few months. Maybe missing out on top four spot will prove to be a blessing in disguise. It's when things get tough you see who you can count on to fight on and vice versa. Whatever happens, some big decisions are going to be made come summer, because it increasingly looks like it's time to clean house and get fresh blood.

I'm not mad at you Chippy for posting an article. Yes, I guess it's good news that the captain supports the manager, I get it.

I've just fed up with the players/manager professing their commitment to turn things around and then repeatedly letting the fans down. It's been going on for too long this season. I say, just shut up already and start winning games. For the team with the highest wage bill in the country most of the performances have been nothing short of embarrassing. Everyone and their mother are having a ball taking shots at us, there's no team left in a country that doesn't think they've got no chance against this Chelsea side, and it's disheartening to see these highly paid pros not putting enough effort game after game.

For so many experienced players in the midst this squad curiously lacks leadership. Apart from Jt ,Big Pete and Brana no one can hold their up high after what we've witnessed last few months. Maybe missing out on top four spot will prove to be a blessing in disguise. It's when things get tough you see who you can count on to fight on and vice versa. Whatever happens, some big decisions are going to be made come summer, because it increasingly looks like it's time to clean house and get fresh blood.

" Apart from Jt ,Big Pete and Brana no one can hold their up high after what we've witnessed last few months." obviously your opinion,carlo said it was jt ivan and lampard,i think ramires is being sold short in all of this.the man never stops trying (imo),but i for one am glad he or you didnt say cole.hes been flying under the radar for quite some time now(again imo)and seems to get away with it when he hasnt played well.

" Apart from Jt ,Big Pete and Brana no one can hold their up high after what we've witnessed last few months." obviously your opinion,carlo said it was jt ivan and lampard,i think ramires is being sold short in all of this.the man never stops trying (imo),but i for one am glad he or you didnt say cole.hes been flying under the radar for quite some time now(again imo)and seems to get away with it when he hasnt played well.

No Sir I am pretty sure Carlo also said JT, Big Pete and Brana. Maybe not in those exact words..he might have called Big Pete, Cech.

Maybe they should start playing like they are behind him then.

basically what john, lamps and carlo have been alluding to in recent weeks, in veiled terms of course is that there are players who have switched off and have left the club in all but body.

i think we can guess who they are.

we have no strength in depth so if they dont man up, then we cant function as a title winning side with whats left.

basically what john, lamps and carlo have been alluding to in recent weeks, in veiled terms of course is that there are players who have switched off and have left the club in all but body.

i think we can guess who they are.

we have no strength in depth so if they dont man up, then we cant function as a title winning side with whats left.

My guess is that they all speak French.

basically what john, lamps and carlo have been alluding to in recent weeks, in veiled terms of course is that there are players who have switched off and have left the club in all but body.

i think we can guess who they are.

Why don't you name them for us then?

Anelka, Malouda,Kalou . . . . hey they all do speak French. :o

And I have no idea what's wrong with Essien.

Anelka, Malouda,Kalou . . . . hey they all do speak French. :o

And I have no idea what's wrong with Essien.

Must be a conspiracy then... or perhaps just a coincidence of language.

I don't think Kalou belongs in that group. He is still frustrating to watch but I don't doubt his effort and attitude. Drogba has struggled for most of the season but malaria has a long term effect on your body and at least he has some excuse. Bosingwa and Lampard both come off serious injuries. Mikel, I think has been hit-and-miss this season.

Anelka,Malouda and Essien have been the main culprits.

If there are important players in our squad that are not trying and the manager and two most senior players know who they are, get them right away from the first team, and let people know that certain players have been dropped because of a poor attitude. I'd also then question the manager on why he can't get them motivated (not necessarily all his fault though). I'd rather win nothing with reserve players getting a chance than win nothing with top internationals that don't give a sh*t.

I don't think Terry sounded like he thought some players hadn't been giving their all and although it does appear that way on occasions my feeling is thats a lot tod do with most people thinking the squad is better than it really is, I think the Premier is tougher now than ever and even mid and bottom of the table teams are very well organised meaning even a slight drop of form makes it very hard to break these teams down.

Only my opinion but I don't think pointing at players like Drogs, Essien, Lampard after their injuries as not trying is fair and although I have had my doubts (and mainly in Phils tenure) to Drogbas attitude, while I'll admit if things don't go his way early he can lose his faculties I don't think its because he doesn't want to get behind the Manager, I think its born out of frustration as he knows how good he is and that hes far from his best.

Malouda is a bit of an enigma and he has shown how good he can be but struggles to get into games at all when he has any dip in form, I'd like to see more of Zhirkov coming on for him if hes not doing well as I think he can be more direct.

Mikel is just Mikel and he looks worse when the players around him are off, its a lot to ask of him to do what Ramires does when playing beside an off form Frank and Essien and Mikels game is so different hes never going to show that he is playing better amongst two off form players the way Ramires does with his constant running.

No Sir I am pretty sure Carlo also said JT, Big Pete and Brana. Maybe not in those exact words..he might have called Big Pete, Cech.

Actually, I think Carlo only said Terry and Ivanovic. I've read somewhere that the quote included Lampard as well, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

If he had included Frankie I would seriously mistrust his judgement.

Actually, I think Carlo only said Terry and Ivanovic. I've read somewhere that the quote included Lampard as well, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

If he had included Frankie I would seriously mistrust his judgement.

What he actually said was that Terry and Ivanovic were the only consistently good outfield players, and that Frank played good football against Everton:

However Ancelotti does insist some of his players' performances are not being influenced by a lack of confidence and highlighted the recent displays by two of his defenders to add to in-form Petr Cech.

'[branislav] Ivanovic has played consistently well and so has [John] Terry. We have a problem at the moment with [Michael] Essien and Mikel, they are not 100 per cent, but the other players are in good condition. [Frank] Lampard played good football in the match against Everton.'

However, taken from the same article on the official site, I find this somewhat incredible:

After the defeat against Birmingham [in November] we have lost confidence in our play and sometimes it is difficult to move on.

'But we/have to keep going and maintain our play, create chances and hopefully have more shot accuracy. We are not having good results and we have to do better.'

What exactly is Ancelotti saying here? That the team lost confidence after losing to Birmingham in November, and that they've been struggling to regain confidence ever since?

Edited February 22, 201115 yr by Hutch

If Carlo thinks players are not giving 100 % , then he should be the one who should have made the players pay for their lack of effort ... He keeps on choosing the same player and the player with no threat to his place whatsoever doesn't feel inclined to give 100 % .

He can give chances to an under performing player may be 3-4 times but not persist with them all throughout their slump in form and that contributes to the slump in team's form ..

I would name Malouda and Anelka as prime suspects , malouda in particular .. He should have never played these many games this season !

What exactly is Ancelotti saying here? That the team lost confidence after losing to Birmingham in November, and that they've been struggling to regain confidence ever since?

If i remember correctly...Birmingham scored with their only attack of the game....we should have been 3-0 up before their goal was scored, Paul Merson watched the game for SKY that afternoon...we battered them from pillar to post, squandering countless chances to score, so how come such a dominant performance albeit we lost 1-0 dent confidence??

Did Ancelotti see the Sunderland game or did he miss the bus to Anfield..its total bollocks!!!