JT: We’re developing.

 Before departing for England duty, John Terry has discussed his pleasure with the new coaching setup at Stamford Bridge, praising the work of Avram Grant and his support staff.

The Chelsea captain has played the last two games in a protective mask to prevent damaging his fractured cheekbone, and his willingness to put himself on the line is a great tribute to the new management, and Terry’s commitment to turn things around.

In that time, we have achieved two important victories, with wins away at Valencia and Bolton, and Terry believes to pick up the three points at the Reebok Stadium was vital.

Despite his injury, Terry is determined to continue playing for both club and country, and insists he is happy just to be on the field, following a frustrating 2006/7.

“I didn’t play too much last season so I’m delighted to be out there playing, I’ll do my best and I’m fit and ready to be out there week in week out,” he said.

“We definitely needed the points and put in a great team performance today,” Terry added. “It’s a tough place to come, they make it difficult for the opponents and they certainly did that today but we fought together, got a great goal from Salomon and held on in the end.

“We dug in and needed to do that as a group of players. Results haven’t gone as well as we liked. We needed this win in the league after a big win on Wednesday night in Valencia, against another great side. Then we’ve come here, picked up three points and are moving in the right direction. It’s important we maintain this.”

There is now a fortnight’s break before our next match away at Middlesbrough, and while there is no time to take stock for Terry and his international colleagues, Avram Grant will be looking to find his own backroom staff following the departure of José Mourinho and the majority of his coaches.

“Avram’s come in and with the likes of Clarkey and Brendan [Rodgers] about it’s been fantastic. It’s great to have familiar faces,” Terry said.

“Clarkey knows the club inside out, and when he speaks it really goes in. It’s from the heart with Clarkey, not just for the English lads but the foreign lads as well.”

JT is also impressed with the new first team coach/manager, and reiterated previous statements that the players believe in him, and, he believes, the fans do too.

“They’re turning up and travelling all over the world for us, so they’re still behind us and behind Avram. Having spoken to them, they’ve got great feelings for Mourinho and they’ll always sing his name, but Avram is the next step and we move forward,” Terry said.

“They’ll certainly love him in the future. He’s definitely the man for the future, and you can see we were always going to have that first week or two where it didn’t go as well as we liked, but he’s putting his thoughts and feelings on to the training pitch and we’re developing that in the matches. He’s the right man in charge and everybody has to get behind him.

“There’s always a lot more to come from Chelsea. He’s trying to do his bit along with Steve Clarke and the likes of Brendan Rodgers in there. It’s great to have people like that around you, and it’s important for us because the lads fully respect him, are fully behind him and we’re happy with him.”

-ChelseaFC.com