Chelsea
boss Jose Mourinho has revealed his decision to take John Terry off at
half-time against Manchester City was a tactical one.
The Chelsea captain made way for Kurt Zouma at the interval with his side
trailing 1-0 to Sergio Aguero's goal - but second-half strikes from Vincent
Kompany and Fernandinho saw City run out comfortable 3-0 winners at the
Etihad.
The result leaves Chelsea with just one point from their opening two games
and Mourinho confirmed to Sky Sports that Terry was not injured and he made
the change to stifle City’s fast counter attacks.
“It was just a decision,” Mourinho said.
“I know that Zouma is the fastest defender we have in the squad. In that
moment Manchester City were going to play counter-attacking. I knew they
were going to play long balls to Sergio Aguero. Zouma is a different player
to John Terry and Gary Cahill.
"It was proven completely right because Zouma was completely in control."
It was the first time Mourinho had ever substituted Terry in the 177
appearances he has made under him at Chelsea, but he insists his captain
retains his full support.
“He is a player who has my total trust, there is no doubt about it,”
Mourinho added.
“With me he was never substituted but with other managers he was not even
playing. People said his Chelsea career was over.
“If somebody has the free mind and the right to have these kinds of
decisions as a manager, I am the one because I am the one who gave him the
chance to be what he is; a fantastic player and fantastic captain.
"I left him out because tactically I had to make a change and when you make
changes sometimes you are right and sometimes you are wrong. I think I was
proven right because we controlled the type of the game and the
counter-attack totally.
"John is Chelsea captain for sure and he is a player with my entire
confidence for sure."
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