Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has backed John Terry following the FA's decision to strip him of the England captaincy.
Defender to remain as Blues skipper
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has backed John Terry following the Football Association's decision to strip him of the England captaincy.
The FA announced earlier on Friday that Terry was being stripped of the captaincy until the racism allegations placed against him in the wake of the incident with Anton Ferdinand were resolved.
Terry, who is due stand trial in July over the alleged racial abuse, strenuously denies the charge.
Calls have been mounting for him to be stripped of the national armband and the FA has decided to act, but it insists dropping him as captain does not infer any guilt on his part.
Villas-Boas has come out in support of Terry and insists he will remain as Chelsea skipper.
Disagree
"It is really an FA decision I have nothing to say about it," said Villas-Boas.
"I don't agree with it but you will have to ask the FA about it and the people responsible for the decision.
"I think the statement from the FA is pretty clear on what was their decision-making and you will have to ask them the foundations of their decision.
"From my opinion I don't agree with it [the FA decision]. John will continue to be our captain."
"It doesn't compromise on my decision-making. It obviously compromises the FA's decision-making and I am nobody to criticise what they decide."
Asked if the FA's decision to take the armband off Terry would affect the defender's performances, Villas-Boas said: "I don't think it will affect John's performances, not at all."
Absent
Villas-Boas also confirmed Terry will miss Sunday's showdown with Manchester United and most likely the next game against Everton because of a knee injury.
Terry missed Tuesday's draw at Swansea with the knee problem and he has failed to recover in time to face United and a possible meeting with Ferdinand's older brother Rio.
"He is out of the Manchester United game. He will probably miss Everton as well," concluded Villas-Boas.
