Terry: Victory will answer critics May 01 2008
Captain John Terry will lead Chelsea out against Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League final in Moscow insisting victory would finally silence their critics.
Avram Grant's team reached the final thanks to a thrilling 3-2 win over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night which saw them progress 4-3 on aggregate.
And winning the trophy is something Terry is "desperate" to achieve.
"We won the Premier League two years running and we've won other trophies and it takes a great side to do that," the Blues defender declared.
"But a Champions League trophy would answer a few critics and it is something I am desperate to win.
"Until recently we were not a club to challenge for everything.
"We'd win the occasional trophy like the FA Cup in 1997 and 2000 but we were never a problem for the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal, who have done well over the years.
"But they've all had to start somewhere and now we're at the beginning of that stage."
Terry admits he finds it "unbelievable" that Grant's position as manager is still being questioned by critics after guiding the west Londoners to their first European final in the club's history.
When asked if he thought the Israeli had already done enough to secure his job, the 27-year-old replied: "I would have thought so.
"Results don't lie. You look at the Premier League table since the manager has taken over and they have been very good.
"Avram plays a massive part along with the players, Steve Clarke, Henk ten Cate, the fans and everyone at the club.
"It is a credit to ourselves and the way we have dealt with things this year because at times it has not been easy.
"I think he (Grant) deserves respect and rightly so. It is the first time in the club's history we have got to a Champions League final - it has never been done by any manager or set of players before and he does deserve it.
"To get to where we are and still question the manager's role at the club is unbelievable.
"But it is not just the manager, it is the players, and Henk and Clarkie, who have a big role to play behind the scenes.
"They keep players motivated. We have got such a big squad of players and they manage to keep those not playing motivated and that is a credit to them."