Terry named Blues captain

Jose Mourinho today confirmed that John Terry will be Chelsea's captain for the coming season.

The Portuguese head coach told Standard Sport earlier this month that he was looking for an Englishman to replace Marcel Desailly and he has gone for Terry, with Frank Lampard as his vice-captain.

Mourinho made his decision after extensive consultation with all his players during which Terry emerged as the almost unaminous choice. Mourinho has also formed a committee of four senior players to help the captain improve communication between team and management.

He said: "We have all decided who the captain will be, not just me. I gave the players my opinion yesterday, they gave me there views and it was 90 per cent the same. "A group of four experienced players, Claude Makelele, Carlo Cudicini, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Celestine Babayaro will give John and Frank support."

Mourinho also reopened his row with Sir Alex Ferguson by agreeing with the Manchester United manager's claim that money cannot buy success.

He said: "Sir Alex is correct. Money doesn't buy you victories. If we go back a few months we see that Porto, with 10 per cent of Manchester United's budget, beat them. Money buys players but you have to make a team."

He added: "It will be difficult to win the title in our first season but we can do it. It's a very good squad in good condition and we just have to work on the team spirit.

"We still want another centre-half. In John, William Gallas and Robert Huth I have three very good players but to play 60 matches with just three central defenders is dangerous."