No protection for Terry

Terry: Back in training

Related links

Teams

• Chelsea

Players

• John Terry
• Nicolas Anelka

Also see

• Chelsea fixtures
• Chelsea stats
• Chelsea forum

John Terry will not need to wear a protective strapping on his elbow during the UEFA Champions League final.

The Chelsea skipper came through training unscathed on Wednesday, the first time he has been able to take an active part in the build up to the game since suffering a dislocation in the 1-1 draw with Bolton on Sunday.

It had been feared that the England international would be forced to miss the European showdown with Manchester United altogether, but he insists that he will be fit enough to lead the Blues out in Moscow.

Movement

"My elbow is all right," said Terry.

"There is just a bit of strapping in case I fall and jar it.

"The last couple of days it has been getting better and hopefully I am going to train without the strapping.

"I have full range of movement. It is a little stiff when I wake up in the mornings but when the physios do a bit of work on it and I do some swimming, it frees right up."

Terry believes that the Blues are heading into the game in a confident frame of mind, despite missing out on the Premier League title.

Form

The combative defender is also hoping that the club will be able to put previous disappointments behind them as they head into their first Champions League final.

"We have lost out in the past against Liverpool and Monaco and I really don't want to sit back and say we have thrown it away again," Terry added.

"We have the chance of a lifetime - a great squad of players and in great form at the moment.

"Manchester United have been in good form themselves but we are at the top of our game, we have everyone fit, and we need to take the game to them."

Meanwhile, Nicolas Anelka has become the latest high-profile member of the Chelsea squad to give his support to under-fire boss Avram Grant.

Shy

The French striker has compared the Israeli to his former coach at Real Madrid Vicente del Bosque, a man who guided Los Blancos to Champions League glory in 2002.

"Grant is good for the players because we don't feel the pressure. He is very calm and very shy. When he speaks to the players, you feel confident," said Anelka.

"Of course I hope he stays. Everybody does. He knows what he is doing and that is why he doesn't speak a lot.

"When you see him from inside, you feel very confident. You know what you are doing. Of course it would be good for him to win but also for the players.

"Del Bosque was shy as well and didn't speak a lot. He wanted to play football, he knew what he was doing and we won with him. They had the same style. They know football, they know what they want."