EuroFootballNews.net

Grant stands by John Terry

Having cradled John Terry as the tears streamed down the Chelsea captain's face, Avram Grant refused to apportion any blame for the defender's missed penalty that cost his club the Champions League. With the scores level in the shoot-out, Terry had the chance to clinch victory, but his left foot slipped on the Luzhniki Stadium turf and he saw his penalty rebound off the post.

"Terry is the main reason we are here, it is a difficult time, he is part of the team," said Grant. "The team played excellently, I am very proud, he was great all season, great in the semi-final and this game. He is the reason they didn't create any chances - I feel sorry for him and the team. "John didn't say anything - he was very sad, he cried. Whenever we need him as a captain this season he took responsibility. He slipped, it happens.

"He is still a great captain a great player, he was fantastic - the reason they didn't create many chances. One penalty can make the difference between happiness. It's hard to lose on penalties - but I am more than proud."

Frank Lampard scored Chelsea's equaliser and pointed to the sky in memory of his mother, who recently died. "You can see what it means to John," said Lampard. "He's Mr Chelsea. He wanted this more than anyone at the club. "I just want to say not many centre-halves would have stood up and taken the fifth penalty, a penalty of that importance. That's testament to the man. No one at Chelsea will criticise him at all. John's a man's man. John will be back. I feel emotionally drained. It [the final] has become almost not that important with things personally. We'll come back stronger because we have characters and we've got a team of giants."

Terry is currently at 50/1 odds to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year according to the Blue Square online football betting company and one hopes that this will not hurt his chances. He is a good player, he deserves to be recognized as such.

Sports Betting Odds provided by Blue Square.

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