Source: Daily_Mail
Terry storm: Chelsea skipper in legal battle over claims he got Mourinho sacked
Chelsea captain John Terry was forced to defend himself by issuing a legal threat on the eve of today's FA Cup final against Everton.
As Carlo Ancelotti prepares to take over as manager, Terry's former team-mate Claude Makelele claims in his new autobiography, published in France, that a transfer request from the skipper led to Jose Mourinho's departure in September 2007.
The England captain issued denials last night through his legal representatives, who said: 'We have been informed this evening that in a book by former Chelsea player Claude Makelele it has been claimed that John was in some way involved with the removal of Jose Mourinho.
'We also confirm (should it need confirming) that John has never asked to be transferred from Chelsea. John has instructed lawyers to look at any further comments in this book and at any further publication of untrue allegations that may be reported from it.'
Makelele writes that on hearing he was going to be dropped by Mourinho, Terry went to Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon to voice his discontent and demand a transfer.
Makelele writes: 'John, who didn't want to be a sub, let it be known that he was OK to play on. Mourinho insisted. He told him (Terry) his level of performance was suffering because of his back performance was suffering because of his back problems and repeated clearly that he would be replaced until told otherwise.
He even pointed out that the central defence from now on would be Ricardo Carvalho and Alex. War had been declared.
'For John this was treason. He believed rightly so in my opinion that in giving his all in the second half of the previous season, even though he was in great pain, he deserved a bit more playing time to find his optimum playing level.
'Mourinho had provoked a 'clash' too far. If there is one person who is untouchable at Chelsea then it is John. And Mourinho knew. So why take such a risk? Because he'd had enough and was looking for a way out?
'When John Terry let his discontent be known to Kenyon and asked him for an immediate transfer, Abramovich reacted immediately. The departure of Terry was totally unimaginable. Mourinho was asked to pack his bags.'
Faced with a choice of either losing their talismanic captain or their flamboyant manager, Makelele, now with Paris Saint-Germain, insists that billionaire owner Roman Abramovich reacted by axing title-winning boss Mourinho, sparking the managerial musical chairs at The Bridge.
Recalling the departure of Mourinho two years ago, Makelele adds: 'Rui [Faria] our physical trainer explained that a lot of players had complained about Mourinho, notably John Terry.'
Makelele's claims will come as a huge embarrassment to Chelsea and Terry as they today try to win their first trophy since the 2007 FA Cup, when Mourinho was in charge.
Chelsea maintained that Mourinho's departure was by 'mutual consent' despite handing him a huge compensation package.
In addition, Terry reacted with fury to reports at the time that a breakdown in relations between him and his then manager had contributed to Mourinho's downfall.
Terry himself was unavailable for comment last night but a Chelsea spokesman said: 'It is not a true version of events with regard to the transfer request as there wasn't one. Nor was the captain responsible for Mourinho's departure. Jose's departure was mutually agreed between him and the club.'
