Terry eager to show Chelsea are no fading force

With one win from five matches and no goals in their last three, it is fair to say this is a challenging period for Chelsea FC.

The Londoners' two-year reign as FA Cup holders ended with elimination by Everton last Saturday and, with their Premier League challenge faltering too, the view in some sections of the English press is that last season's double winners are a fading force. It is a view that John Terry was eager to dismiss at the Parken Stadion on the eve of his team's UEFA Champions League round of 16 first-leg meeting with FC København.

Chelsea captain Terry defended his squad against the accusation that time was catching up with them. "We are disappointed with our recent results but talk about us getting too old is wrong," said the 30-year-old England defender. "Two years ago we experienced a similar slump everybody started talking about we were getting too old and then when we won the double last season nobody seemed to mention our age."

The average age of the Chelsea starting XI against Everton on Saturday was 28 yet the perception of an ageing side comes from the fact that key performers like Terry, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba have all reached their 30s and, in some cases, struggled with injuries. The ticking clock at least ensures this fine generation of Chelsea players will be giving everything to achieve their long-held ambition of winning the UEFA Champions League, having gone tantalisingly close several times, losing four semi-finals and the 2008 final on a penalty shoot-out.

Terry says Chelsea's domestic struggles mean they have no option but to go for broke in Europe. "The Champions League is our priority," he said. "It will be tough to catch Man. United in the league even though we face them twice, so the focus is on lifting the trophy that has eluded us so far.

"We are a side full of quality and with the arrival of Fernando Torres and David Luiz [who is ineligible] we're even stronger. The tough times this season are part and parcel of being a footballer. I am disappointed but not giving up. We have confidence and we certainly have the players to compete at the top."

The fact this season's final takes place in London offers further incentive, were it needed, to a team who, in Terry's words, are "hungry" to finally hold that elusive trophy. "Our current situation could be a blessing in disguise to do well in the Champions League," he added. "It will be tough against a strong København side that will press us and be dangerous on the counter, but we are hungry and if we man up we have a chance of lifting the trophy at Wembley come May."