Terry hits back at Chelsea ’southern softies’ tag

LONDON - Chelsea captain John Terry has vowed that his team will prove they are no ’southern softies’ by reigniting their Premier League season.

The defending champions returned to the top four in the points table, and put themselves back in the title frame with a resounding 4-0 win against Bolton Wanderers on Monday.

“Our self-belief is back, but we’ve got some really tough games coming up at Everton and Sunderland now. People might say we’re southern softies as we’ve not won away for a while, but we’re certainly not that,” the Sun quoted Terry, as saying.

“We showed at Bolton we can mix it or stick it in the box. We’ve shown we can fight and earn the right to play,” he added.

Chelsea have won away only once in the league since late October.

Terry also offered strong words regarding the view that Chelsea’s senior players are ageing.

Terry, Ashley Cole, Nicolas Anelka, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba are all 30 or older.

“The age thing is annoying. Towards the end of last year I heard a lot of things about us showing great experience with the players we had in the squad, but three months later we’re all too old,” Terry said.

“Next year we’ll all be a year older so will really be in trouble. We’ve got players who are 30, 31, 32, but also some young blood coming through. It’s a great mix.”

“One thing you can’t take away from this group is our winning mentality, which rubs off on everyone who comes in,” he added.(ANI)