Monday 17 August 2015 08:34, UK
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has revealed his decision to take John Terry off at half-time against Manchester City was a tactical one.
The Chelsea captain made way for Kurt Zouma at the interval on Sunday with his side trailing 1-0 to Sergio Aguero's goal - but second-half strikes from Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho saw City run out comfortable 3-0 winners at the Etihad.
The result leaves Chelsea with just one point from their opening two Premier League games and Mourinho confirmed to Sky Sports that Terry was not injured and he made the change to stifle City's fast counter attacks.
"It was just a decision," Mourinho said.
"I know that Zouma is the fastest defender we have in the squad. In that moment, Manchester City were going to play counter-attacking. I knew they were going to play long balls to Sergio Aguero. Zouma is a different player to John Terry and Gary Cahill.
"It was proven completely right because Zouma was completely in control."
It was the first time Mourinho had ever substituted Terry in the 177 appearances he has made under him at Chelsea, but he insists his captain retains his full support.
"He is a player who has my total trust, there is no doubt about it," Mourinho added.
"With me, he was never substituted but with other managers, he was not even playing. People said his Chelsea career was over.
"If somebody has the free mind and the right to have these kinds of decisions as a manager, I am the one because I am the one who gave him the chance to be what he is; a fantastic player and fantastic captain.
"I left him out because tactically I had to make a change and when you make changes, sometimes you are right and sometimes you are wrong. I think I was proven right because we controlled the type of the game and the counter-attack totally.
"John is Chelsea captain for sure and he is a player with my entire confidence for sure."
