• John Terry’s club and country managers back defender
• Fabio Capello may wait to name new permanent captain

Fabio Capello is sure that John Terry will not retire from international football despite being stripped of the England captaincy by the Football Association. The head coach may also appoint a temporary captain for England’s next game, the friendly against Holland later this month, before deciding on a long-term replacement, with Glen Johnson, Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry among those in line behind the Italian’s current favourite, Steven Gerrard.

After Terry was stood down from the captaincy by the FA on Friday morning, the prospect was raised of the Chelsea captain walking away from international football completely. But Capello is confident that this would be anathema to Terry, believing that he will wish to continue playing for England despite now having lost the armband twice.

Terry was removed from the role by the Italian in February 2010 due to revelations about his personal life. The head coach has drawn on how Terry played on after that incident as well as his knowledge of the defender’s resolute attitude to conclude that Terry will not quit.

Regarding his replacement the vice-captain Gerrard is the natural successor and provided he stays fit and continues to play regularly for Liverpool after a prolonged injury lay-off the midfielder should lead England against Holland on 29 February.

Capello also has Barry and Lampard in mind, though he is conscious that the latter is no longer a regular starter for Chelsea, and neither he nor the Manchester City midfielder are automatic choices since Scott Parker’s emergence. However, the Italian still admires both players and with Wayne Rooney banned from the first two matches of Euro 2012, and with a three-month gap until England’s next match after the Dutch friendly, against Norway in Oslo, Capello may wait until then to assess fitness and form regarding before deciding who will lead England in Ukraine and Poland.

While Parker and Johnson also have outside chances of being made captain, Capello is yet to speak publicly about the removal of Terry and the fact that the decision was taken over his head by the 12-member FA Council. He may well do so before England next meet up in around three weeks to clear the air ahead of the Holland friendly though if Terry does play on the issue of team unity is bound to linger.

Rio Ferdinand, Anton’s older brother, spoke for the first time since Terry lost the captaincy on Saturday stating that he was unconcerned whether the Chelsea defender played or not in Sunday’smatch against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

There had been speculation over whether Ferdinand would shake his fellow England centre-half’s hand now Terry has been charged of making a racial slur at Anton, a charge he will deny at Westminster magistrates’ court on 9 July. But a knee injury has ruled Terry out of the game and Ferdinand said: “I couldn’t care less if he played or not. I just think about playing for Manchester United and winning the game. I let the media talk about it, go on about it and create the storm. We are footballers. That is where we are best. That is where we enjoy being. The result and the performance of our team against theirs was definitely the most important thing for me.”

Of the furore’s effect on his brother, Ferdinand said: “Anton is my little brother. We have grown up together and I have looked after him when we were kids. If something is going to affect him and hurt him, I am always there as a shoulder to lean on. In moments like this, when things are so public and you can’t really say anything, it can be frustrating.

“For my family, yes, it has been tough. My brother has not brought any accusations to anyone. He is not the accused. But he has had to sit there and take abuse from some small-minded people, which has been very disappointing.”

Meanwhile, André Villas-Boas suggested that Terry’s capacity apparently to thrive on adversity has in a perverse way suited Chelsea, and the manager sees no reason why the same would not apply to England, should Capello continue to select the centre-back. “For us, we benefit,” the Portuguese said. “Hopefully for his country it will continue to be the same. I’m not saying it fuels him, that he needs negativity, but he has been outstanding.”

John TerryFabio CapelloEnglandChelseaJamie Jackson
guardian.co.uk

• Chelsea manager laments how ’social stories’ dominate game
• Captain ‘amazing’ not to let court case affect performances

André Villas-Boas believes the furore around the John Terry racism allegation is leaving a blemish on the image of the English game. “It is an unfortunate event, with consequences, and it doesn’t dignify British football, to be fair,” said the Chelsea coach in the aftermath of another controversial development as Terry was stripped of the England captaincy.

As Villas-Boas spent another press conference assailed by questions which relate to matters that have little to do with Chelsea’s match against Manchester United on Sunday, he lamented the way “social stories” dominate the agenda in English football.

“I think in the Premier League there is always a pattern of these kind of stories appearing, what each player does outside of the pitch,” the Chelsea manager said. “We had it in various different cases, we and other clubs. We have to let the people get called to court and the court to make the necessary decision.”

Managing a squad whose most influential player has been at the centre of such a sensitive issue – which has been debated across the media, inside every football stadium Chelsea visit, in Football Association meeting rooms and courtrooms as Terry still awaits trial – has been an eye-opener for a man trying to make headway in his first season in England.

Villas-Boas admitted there is very little to prepare a coach for how to deal with all the ramifications of the kind of social stories which have also ramped up the pressure at Liverpool and Manchester United over the Luis Suárez-Patrice Evra case and Manchester City with the Carlos Tevez predicament.

“It comes with the job and, as you gain experiences, you know how to deal with it better,” he said. “On that sense John has been amazing in terms of his off-field events not affecting his on-field performances.”

Villas-Boas suggested that Terry’s capacity apparently to thrive on adversity has in a perverse way suited Chelsea, and he sees no reason why the same would not apply for England, should Fabio Capello continue to select the centre-back. “For us, we benefit. Hopefully for his country it will continue to be the same. I’m not saying it fuels him, that he needs negativity, but he has been outstanding,” Villas-Boas said.

A knee injury rules Terry out of action this weekend. But fitness permitting, the coach has no qualms about playing him as soon as possible. Chelsea are adamant they will stand by their undisputed captain until there is any reason arising from his trial to do otherwise.

It is hard to imagine a more challenging debut season in an overseas league for a young manager but Villas-Boas broke into a wry smile as he paused to reflect on the experience so far. “It’s exciting and adventurous and magnificent – at the moment,” he said. There is no doubt that Chelsea’s position off the Premier League pace rankles, however. “There was a click of two games that made us lose track. And because we had so many emotions going on for that particular game against QPR and the impact it had on us for continuing to challenge for the title, I am sure I would come back again at the end of the season and say that was the key for us not to be champions.

“We should have a lot more points, that’s the reality, which is why there is that heaviness of a year that is not going well. We need to find a sequence of results to make us explode.”

Despite the inroads made by Manchester City this season, Villas-Boas believes United remain the benchmark. “I think so, bearing in mind the injuries they had which are now returning. I think they will be the ones to beat. Although the distance to Man City is equal to nothing, they will be the main favourites.”

ChelseaAndré Villas-BoasJohn TerryAmy Lawrence
guardian.co.uk