Source: Telegraph
Chelsea fly to Dallas hoping for swift end to John Terry soap opera
That oil family soap opera may have ended several years ago but Chelsea's own domestic drama is still running strong. John Terry has not, pointedly, broken his silence over the Manchester City transfer saga.
And now Carlo Ancelotti, the Chelsea manager, has staked his own reputation that Terry will stay. 'Terry will stay in Chelsea. We have never had a problem. [But] we have to wait,' Ancelotti said without exactly explaining why. 'Is it a problem for you to wait? You have to have trust in me.'
But why wait? No one has any reason not to put their trust in Ancelotti and there remains a confidence at Chelsea, who are adamant their captain will not be sold, no matter what City offer, that an amicable solution can be found.
But Chelsea have been in the United States for more than a week now. And Terry hasn't spoken, to either the American or international media. Not once.
Given this tour is largely about spreading the message to a new market then the failure for the club captain to voice an opinion is curious. Publicly Chelsea say there is no need for him to talk. Privately they are desperate for him to do so.
Indeed after defeating Inter Milan last Tuesday, in Pasadena, California, Terry said he would break his silence 'soon'. He appeared happy but then after the match against AC Milan in Baltimore on Friday night he didn't speak. Too much can be read into all of this but the prospect of Terry boarding the plane back to England on Monday without clarifying what he wants is uncomfortable for Chelsea. The season starts all too soon.
Chelsea have set out a sequence of events that they now want. The club have appealed to Terry to publicly pledge his future to them after which they will negotiate a new contract for the 28 year-old that would include a pay rise to once again make him the highest-earning player.
New deals for Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack mean they have leapfrogged above his £130,000-a-week contract that has three years to run. Chelsea had thought that Terry had agreed to this in principle last week. But still things drag.
It's clear he wants a greater show of faith: either more money (and Chelsea have already said they cannot match the near £200,000 a week plus bonuses on offer at City), the signing of the big-name players he was promised would come to the club and, also, an acknowledgement of how valuable he is at the club.
After all his last contract took too long to negotiate two years ago and he has been through some turbulent times at Chelsea while, especially after Jose Mourinho left and Avram Grant was appointed, and then again under Luiz Felipe Scolari last season, often being the man who has held things together in the dressing room.
Into this has stepped Ancelotti. He has been assured by the club's hierarchy that Terry will not be allowed to go and has stuck to this line. It is also understood that the Italian, who has stated his intention to create a clear 'identity' for Chelsea, sees Terry as a key player in his plans.
It is certain that Terry's head has been turned by City's money and ambitions and that, for the last few weeks, he has been in some turmoil. Maybe he now feels Chelsea are trying to force his hand while City wait, hoping, he will take the drastic step of submitting a transfer request. That remains unlikely.It is a serious situation.
But there was time for some levity. It is not just Terry's future that has been in doubt. At Milan they are fretting over whether Chelsea will attempt to sign Andrea Pirlo. Ancelotti wants him but the asking price, around €20 million, for a 30 year-old, is too high.
Immediately after Ancelotti had fielded questions on Terry, his successor at Milan, Leonardo, was asked about Pirlo, his captain in the 2-1 friendly defeat against Chelsea in the early hours of yesterday morning in Baltimore.
'You have to wait,' he said. 'I hope he doesn't leave but the transfer market is open until Aug 31 and a lot of things can happen, but I think that nothing will happen on that case.'
Chelsea are praying the same is true with Terry. And they can end their own soap opera.
