Chelsea
defender Gary Cahill has backed captain John Terry to shrug off a hostile
reception when the Blues head to Loftus Road to face QPR in Sunday's Premier
League match.
It was on the same ground in 2011 that Terry was caught up in a race
controversy with ex-QPR defender Anton Ferdinand. He was later cleared in
court of racially abusing the player but banned for four matches and fined
£220,000 by the Football Association for 'using abusive language related to
colour'.
"He has been through a lot football-wise in his career," Cahill said.
"He has been through so many good times, winning trophies and whatnot, and
bad times. So in terms of personality he is obviously thick-skinned and
that's why I say it won't affect him, and it won't affect us."
Terry was stripped of the England captaincy amid the fall-out, and
subsequently announced his retirement from international football.
On Sunday, he may come up against Anton Ferdinand's brother Rio, who branded
him an 'idiot' over the affair, and the QPR fans will be sure to give him a
warm reception.
Cahill added: "It's a local derby so the atmosphere will be intense and it
will be another huge game to try to win. I think he has been there already.
It's not as if it's the first time he has been back, he has played there."
Chelsea go into the weekend seven points clear of Arsenal having played a
game less, but Cahill said there was no sense of easing up, with the Gunners
still to come on the fixture list.
"There is still that element of pressure to finish the job," he said. "We've
worked so hard this season to be where we are and to put ourselves in the
position we are in, so we want to go all the way and finish it."
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