Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has confirmed that skipper John Terry will start Saturday's potentially explosive FA Cup tie with west London rivals Queens Park Rangers.
Terry, who is facing criminal charges which arose from the two clubs' Premier League meeting at Loftus Road earlier this season, will line-up in defence as normal, Villas Boas said Friday.
It will be the first time Terry has faced QPR defender Anton Ferdinand since he was alleged to have racially abused the Rangers player during Chelsea's defeat to QPR in October.
Asked if he had considered omitting Terry from the match, Villas-Boas replied: "No, not at all."
"I have to count on the player, and the player is fit and available for the game," he said.
Villas-Boas said he would not issue any special instructions to his team as they prepare to play in what is likely to be a highly charged atmosphere.
"I won't speak to the players specifically about that before the game, not at all," he said. "The environment was outstanding the last time we played there at Loftus Road, so I expect it to be the same."
Source: AFP
