Benitez bolsters defence as Terry prepares to start against Arsenal

SOCCER:John Terry is set to make his first start for Rafael Benitez's Chelsea against Arsenal tomorrow as the interim first-team manager seeks to address what has been perceived as a lack of leadership and character in the team, frailties that have contributed to a recent slump in home form.

Benitez has won one of his six domestic games at Stamford Bridge, all of which have been played with supporters making clear their displeasure at his presence. The Spaniard had suggested in the immediate aftermath of Wednesday’s wasteful draw with Southampton that Terry was not yet ready to return to the fray. The veteran centre-half had injured knee ligaments during the draw with Liverpool on November 11th when Roberto Di Matteo was in charge and, while the damage was relatively minor, it has taken time for the joint to repair fully.

Yet the sight of his team throwing away a 2-0 half-time lead has impressed upon Benitez the need to restore Terry to the side, with the Spaniard encouraged by the 32-year-old’s participation in training this week. His selection against Arsenal will depend upon how he emerges from today’s session at Cobham, but there is optimism he will be able to play from the start.

“It’s important to have players with character on the pitch, particularly if you want to manage a game like the other day,” Benitez said. “We have some good players. Some of them show more ‘character’. Others show different qualities. We have a group of players with quality and sometimes we still miss these things, but [Terry] is one of the strong characters we have and to have bodies and people with this mentality can help. Hopefully he will be fine and we will be able to see his positive influence for the rest of the season in the team.”

Racism ban

Terry’s last full 90 minutes of action came in the Champions League group game defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk on October 23rd, during a four-game domestic ban for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand, with his football since amounting to a little over half-an-hour against Liverpool and a 10-minute cameo, in which he conceded a penalty, at Stoke last Saturday.

Chelsea’s recent toils have demanded his inclusion, with nerves showing too often on the pitch in what has become a tense environment at Stamford Bridge. While the team have flourished on their travels – to the tune of 20 goals in six matches, and impressive wins at Everton and Stoke – they have been edgy and error-prone at times on their own patch, frustration setting in too easily when confronted by blanket defence.

Benitez said the atmosphere has not contributed to disappointing results, though he has pointed to a cramped fixture list hampering his attempts to impress new ideas and strategies on the team. He hopes a derby against rivals for Champions League qualification will help focus minds in the stands as well on the pitch.

“It’s good to have such a big challenge ahead of us after a draw at home, which was not good enough,” he said. “Everyone will be concentrating. To have Arsenal is a good thing for me and the players, a rival who are close to us. We have to use that as a positive.”

Arsenal won 5-3 in the corresponding fixture last season with Benitez full of admiration for his opposite number, Arsene Wenger. “He has been one of the best, if not the best, manager in England over the last few years with what he achieved and the way they do things, a good way,” added Benitez.