National anthem inspired Terry

02 March 2015 10:47

John Terry's emotions were stirred on hearing the national anthem at Wembley but the Chelsea captain has no plans to reconsider his retirement from England duty.

The 34-year-old scored his first major final goal in a 2-0 defeat of Tottenham before lifting the Capital One Cup on Sunday.

He retired from England duty in 2012 after being stripped of the captaincy in the wake of the Anton Ferdinand affair, but is still considered by many to be England's leading defender.

"I have missed it, playing in these big stadiums and in these competitions and I'm delighted to get back to Wembley," Terry said.

"They started playing the national anthem before the game and I was going then."

Asked if he was considering an England return, Terry, who earned 78 caps, added: "No. It's the simple answer, I don't want to go into it right now.

"Being back at Wembley, the atmosphere, the stadium, it's one of the best I have played in, but it's never crossed my mind.

"I have drawn a line under it and the England squad can move on now."

Terry retired from England duty after being banned for four matches by the Football Association, despite being cleared at Westminster Magistrates Court of making a racist insult to then QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, brother of his long-time England central defensive partner Rio.

Chelsea's success showed the club in a positive light following last month's events in Paris, when five supporters were suspended by the club following a racist incident on the French capital's Metro ahead of the Champions League tie at Paris St Germain.

Terry lifted the 2005 League Cup under Jose Mourinho, a success which was the springboard for many more wins, including Chelsea's first championship in 50 years later that same season.

The Blues skipper hopes Mourinho's third League Cup - and first trophy of his second spell - can be the catalyst for another trophy haul, with a first Premier League title in five years now the focus.

"It's given us a taste of where we want to be at the end of the season, lifting more trophies," Terry added.

"This is our first one collectively. Looking back at 2004-05 it definitely had that effect on the squad.

"Hopefully it can have the same effect again to this new and upcoming squad.

"It's a great feeling. And to be the first one as a group to win is nice.

"It gives us a taste and some of the younger players in the squad as well, inspire them to go on and win more for the football club in years to come."

Chelsea's immediate attentions turn to the Premier League, where they hold a five-point lead and have a game in hand on holders Manchester City, who lost at Liverpool on Sunday.

The Blues play West Ham on Wednesday night, returning to training immediately and postponing League Cup celebrations.

"Go again for West Ham. No celebrations," he said.

"Hopefully we can put that on hold till the end of the season and many more to come. Back to focusing on the Premier League now."

Eden Hazard hopes Chelsea can win two more trophies this season.

"It's always important to win trophies when playing for Chelsea," the Belgium playmaker said.

"By winning this trophy, we can concentrate on the league 100 per cent.

"Before the game we didn't feel pressure or think about the Liverpool-Man City game. Of course when you see the result and that Liverpool won, it is very good for the confidence.

"The season is still long. It is not finished. Manchester City have very good players, they play very well and it will be a war until the end.

"So it is important for us to keep going, we still have a lot of matches."

Chelsea are also still in European contention and play their last-16 Champions League second leg with Paris St Germain next week at Stamford Bridge. The tie is poised at 1-1.

"When you play for Chelsea you have to win trophies and get to the semi-final or final of the Champions League," Hazard added.

"We know it's always difficult because there are very good teams in it.

"The first game against PSG finished 1-1, it was good for us. But the tie is not finished and we need to win.

"How far can we go? I hope we can get to the final. We will see. First, we must concentrate on out next game against West Ham."

Source: PA