Terry won't let strained relationship with Bridge affect him, says Ancelotti

26 February 2010 15:49
Carlo Ancelotti insists John Terry will not be distracted by the controversy over whether Wayne Bridge will shake his hand when Chelsea meet Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.   [LNB]But the Chelsea manager admitted the publicity surrounding the situation was unique in his footballing experience.   [LNB]Focused: Chelsea skipper John Terry [LNB]City full-back Bridge quit the England national side on Thursdayafter deciding that professionally and personally, he could not dealwith working with a former friend and team-mate who is alleged to havehad an extra-marital affair with his estranged partner and mother ofhis son.   [LNB]Tomorrow is the first time the two will have met since the scandalbroke but Ancelotti said: 'John Terry is a professional. He doesn'thave a problem to look forward, to stay focused on the match.   [LNB]'He has a very good mentality. He has had a fantastic season and he will do the same until the end of the season.  [LNB] 'I'm sure tomorrow will be Manchester City against Chelsea (ratherthan Terry v Bridge) so we have to pay attention, we have to stay infocus. Manchester City is a very good team. They have a lot of goodplayers with strong quality, we have to think about this.   [LNB]'No way will it distract the team. I don't know how many people are interested in this. For sure not the players.'  But he did admit: 'In Italy we have never had anything like this.'  [LNB] Wayne's World: Bridge said his position in the England squad is 'divisive' [LNB][LNB]For all Ancelotti's support of Terry, however, he was clearlyirritated at today's pre-match press conference by the persistentquestions surrounding his captain in a month which has also seen AshleyCole and his wife Cheryl separate amid more lurid headlines.   [LNB]When asked whether he was surprised by Bridge's decision to quitEngland, Ancelotti said: 'I'm not surprised because it his personaldecision. I respect his decision. It's not my problem.'   [LNB]Ancelotti also insisted he was not concerned about Terry's form,even though he was blamed for Inter Milan's opening goal as he produceda below-par display in Wednesday's Champions League defeat.   [LNB] Broken Bridges: Terry and Bridge played together at Chelsea and England [LNB][LNB]He said: 'He is doing good performances. I don't see that hiscondition went down. I think he's doing a good job for the team.'   [LNB]Ancelotti was more interested in talking about how Chelsea couldbounce back from their Champions League first leg defeat and go fourpoints clear of Manchester United in the Premier League once more intomorrow's 12.45 kick-off. [LNB]'We were disappointed because it was not a good result (against Inter),' he said. [LNB]'But I think other things were very good. We showed good mentality,very good personality and I think we have a good chance to win atStamford Bridge.  [LNB] 'We also want to go four points clear of Manchester United. We knowtomorrow will be a difficult game because the last game againstManchester City we lost.'   [LNB]  Wayne Bridge to face John Terry after Roberto Mancini confirms defender's place in Manchester City squad at ChelseaPICTURED: Tevez touches down at Heathrow as striker returns for Man CityMikel warns Terry and Bridge: Don't lose your heads in Stamford clash!John Terry didn't say sorry: The reason Wayne Bridge quit EnglandCHELSEA FC

Source: Daily_Mail