Terry ready for more Chelsea upheaval

Call it the exuberance of youth, just plain naïvety or, hopefully, the confidence of a footballer at the top of his game, but John Terry is deadly serious when he discusses the prospects of Roberto Carlos appearing in the Chelsea team.

Call it the exuberance of youth, just plain naïvety or, hopefully, the confidence of a footballer at the top of his game, but John Terry is deadly serious when he discusses the prospects of Roberto Carlos appearing in the Chelsea team.

"If we do sign Carlos, hopefully Bridgey will continue doing what he's been doing and I'm sure he [Carlos] will find it tough to get in," Terry said. "That's the way Bridgey has to approach it and I'm sure he will be in the side at the start of the season."

Bridgey is, of course, Wayne Bridge, Terry's team-mate at club and international level where he is "pushing hard" for Ashley Cole's place in the England starting line-up.

Terry rates Bridge as Chelsea's "second-best player" this season - but is aware that no matter how well players perform, changes can be made. "It doesn't make me nervous about my own position, it makes me excited," he said. Such is life under Roman Abramovich. "Roman wants the best players and wants to win things," Terry added, claiming that Chelsea should have secured a trophy. "We had the squad to do so. We will be stronger next season," he said. It is why he could not bring himself to watch last night's Champions' League final.

Terry points out that, despite all the arrivals, it was a player who was already there, Frank Lampard, who was the best performer. Nevertheless, it is Terry and not Lampard who will line-up against France in 17 days' time - although he knows he owes his place as much to absences as his excellent form. The defender deserves his chance in his first major tournament, though, having been ruled out of the World Cup because of an impending court case for an alleged assault. He was acquitted. Terry has transformed himself on and off the field since then. "I think it's been a good season. For me personally it's gone well. I've made the step up with England which has been a dream come true."