Scolari defends Terry over England absence

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has told England coach Fabio Capello there is no way John Terry would ever duck out of international duty.

Capello was reportedly unhappy that Terry played in Chelsea's 5-0 win at Middlesbrough on Saturday just five days after the England captain ruled himself out of his country's World Cup qualifier against Belarus.

Terry missed the Belarus game last Wednesday, as well as England's win over Kazakhstan the previous weekend, as he struggled with a back problem that has troubled the defender for several weeks, so Capello was surprised to see him line up at the Riverside Stadium.

But Scolari dismissed suggestions that Terry had deliberately pulled out of England's matches to keep himself fit for Chelsea.

“It is important that the coaches for all the national teams in the world look what has happened,” Scolari said.

“It is impossible to play Wednesday if you have an injury on Monday because you have only two days to get fit.

“After one or two days it is not possible to play but after three or four days with our medical staff it is normal that a player who has a little problem with his back can play.

“I look and listen and some people from national teams are crazy about this. But maybe they are crazy because they don't understand.

“I don't speak for Capello, I speak for all coaches thinking that some players not playing for national teams because they don't want to play. It is because they are injured.

“All players in the world want to play in the national team but some coaches are crazy.”

Capello has become a huge admirer of Terry since taking over in July because of the centre-back's dedication to the Chelsea cause.

It is that never-say-die attitude that has led some to speculate that Terry is risking a premature end to his career by putting his body on the line so often.

But Scolari insists Terry can cope with the strain. “For Chelsea, John plays every game. This season he has only missed two games for the national team,” he said.

“He has played maybe 18 games until October for Chelsea and England. That is very regular for one player. One or two games it is normal not to play. Other players like Lampard have played the same amount of games.”

Terry is certain to be in the starting line-up for Wednesday's Champions League clash against Roma at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea aim for a win that Scolari believes would put them firmly on course for the second round.

The Blues are top of Group A with four points from their first two matches and Scolari said: “We know we need to win against Roma if we want to qualify. It is most important because if we win one more game after this we are in the second round.”

The contrasting form of the teams suggests Scolari will get his wish. Chelsea have been transformed into a fluent attacking outfit under the Brazilian, while Roma are in crisis after winning just two of their seven league games.

Scolari takes pride in the plaudits thrown Chelsea's way for their new-found commitment to entertaining football, but the former Portugal coach would happily sacrifice his purist principles for another three points on Wednesday.

“It is pleasure not only for me but for the players that people like Chelsea's football,” Scolari said. “I enjoy watching it and I am happy but I am more happy when we win. If we don't play very well but win I am happy.

“We play beautiful football but we need three points every game. Sometimes if it is impossible to play beautiful football we still want three points. Without three points it is difficult to arrive in finals.”