Chelsea are back roars Terry

CHELSEA captain John Terry believes the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti as coach could be the start of a new successful era at the club.

Ancelotti is expected to be named as new Chelsea boss early this week and unveiled at a press conference in the first week of July when the players return from the summer break for pre-season training.

The Blues gave interim coach Guus Hiddink the perfect winning send-off by clinching the FA Cup with a 2-1 success over Everton at Wembley on Saturday.

Louis Saha gave Everton a shock 25-second lead, the quickest- ever goal in a final, but Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard ensured that Hiddink returned to his main role as Russia coach in memorable style.

Ancelotti announced yesterday that his contract at AC Milan has been terminated by mutual consent.

He would be welcomed at Chelsea and Terry says if he is the man to takeover then it could be the start of a wonderful partnership.

‘‘I think a few of the backroom staff have worked with him before, and Andriy Shevchenko speaks very highly of him,’’ said Terry.

‘‘If he’s the man to come in, then he’s got a great bunch of lads to come in and work with.

‘‘Knowing him and knowing us, it could be the start of something very good.

‘‘I think there needs to be a couple of changes, a few players brought in, maybe a few players who haven’t played in the last couple of years maybe need to move on, but the backbone of the side needs to stay as it is.

‘‘We’ve had a great time under Guus. Big shoes to fill, that’s for sure, but we know a new manager’s coming in and we know that we need to come back ready and more determined.

‘‘This is the basis Guus has left us on. We need to continue this not only for him, but for our fans and our football club.

‘‘It’s important we get a settled manager now for a couple of years, a settled team, and we build on this day. Those feelings and emotions in the dressing room. Honestly, it seemed a million miles away from us winning something (earlier in the season), so it’s great to have that feeling back, that feeling of winning again.’’ Terry revealed how there had been emotional farewells prior to the game and that Hiddink was presented with an engraved Rolex watch by the players the night before the final.

‘‘What was said was very private, but really emotional again, and will stay private between the lads,’’ said Terry.

‘‘We gave him a gift last night with a message on the back and a framed shirt. But it was a really good night.

‘‘I spoke on Friday night when Lamps and I presented him with the Rolex Daytona watch and thanked him for all his hard work. It’s been a pleasure to work with him. He was overwhelmed by it, actually, and took his gift really well.

‘‘I think the relationship between Chelsea and Guus Hiddink doesn’t end with the final.

I think he’ll have a big input, and a sit down with Roman Abramovich.

‘‘They’re very close anyway, and he’s obviously seen things that need to be changed at this football club over the last six or seven months. He’ll certainly tell Roman exactly what he feels, and rightly so.

‘‘Hopefully those bad things at the football club will change but, as I say, it’s definitely not ’goodbye’ to Guus. It’s the start of something.

‘‘It’s little things he’s picked up on that need to be improved upon at the training ground, around the football club.

‘‘As players, we’ve said our feelings about what we feel needs to be improved. Hopefully Roman will listen and things will get done.’’ Terry also revealed that owner Abramovich has still got big plans for the club despite his financial affairs suffering under the credit crunch.

‘‘Over the last six months, he’s been busy,’’ said Terry.

‘‘The previous six months after the Champions League final, he was away quite a lot.

‘‘But, of late, he’s been here wanting to know what’s happening at the training ground again. I think we’ll see Chelsea back and competing for the top players who are out there like Franck Ribery and David Villa.

‘‘These are the kind of players we want to attract to Chelsea. If we can do that, with successes like this and pushing for the Premiership again next season, we’re going to attract those kind of players.

‘‘We need those kind of players to strengthen the side and, at the same time, we need to keep hold of lads like Didier Drogba, Ashley and Joe Cole who are up for contract talks.

‘‘They’re great people at the club. People like Ash, Didier and Frank Lampard have been fantastic this year.

‘‘I think there’ll be many players we’ll be in for in the summer, but when big players come up, we need to show people and let them know that Chelsea are back.’’