Mourinho explains decision to replace Terry

Jose Mourinho indicated that he took John Terry off at half-time against Manchester City because Chelsea needed more pace at the back.

The champions were beaten 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium, where Terry was replaced by Kurt Zouma – the first time he has been substituted in 177 matches under Mourinho.

The change was made after a one-sided first half in which City’s attack caused Chelsea major problems.

“I can tell you he [Terry] was not dancing in the dressing room, but I can also tell you that he was not having a bad reaction,” Mourinho said.

“He did what everybody does. The manager says ‘This guy comes in and that guy goes out’ and they all do the same. They wait for the team to go out, they change or they shower and they go back to the bench like he did.”

Mourinho also pointed out that Terry, 34, was no longer a first-team regular and looked like he might leave Stamford Bridge prior to the Portuguese’s return for a second spell as manager.

He said: “I don’t know if you asked many questions [about Terry] to [Rafael] Benitez or Andre Villas-Boas, to Roberto Di Matteo – to those that never played him.

“I’m the one you shouldn’t ask, because I am the one that played with John every game, that made John captain and recovered John from a very difficult situation with other managers.

“I am the one that has the right to look at the game and to say that [I need] Zouma on the pitch.

“It was clear to me that Zouma has to play, then I have to bring one out and that was my captain.”

Mourinho also insisted that Fernandinho, who scored City’s third goal, should have been sent off for elbowing Chelsea striker Diego Costa shortly before half-time.

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