By Clare Lovell
COBHAM, England, Dec 30 - Chelsea skipper John
Terry wants to make their Premier League rivals suffer as the
champions take an 11-point lead into the last match of the year.
Two narrow victories so far over the busy holiday programme
have kept the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool in the
distance and Terry wants more of the same.
"If we keep winning and the others keep winning it's got to
be so frustrating not catching us. We had that a few years ago
with Arsenal," Terry told a news conference after training for
Saturday's home game against Birmingham City.
"Our aim is not just to win one (title) but to carry on like
Manchester United and Arsenal did.
"Things have gone so well. We've lost to Manchester United
and drawn at Everton but other than that we've done really well
especially in the gritty games where we've dug in and ground out
a result," he added.
Terry, a product of Chelsea's youth programme who is now a
defensive fixture for both the London side and England, plays
his 250th league game on Saturday.
"I'm delighted. Looking back four or five years I didn't
envisage it and the last couple of years with the arm band it's
been very special," the 24-year-old said.
Midfield stalwart Frank Lampard should return for the
Birmingham game after missing Wednesday's 1-0 victory over
Manchester City with a virus, bringing an end to his
record-breaking run of 164 consecutive league games.
Terry also had praise for Portuguese midfielder Maniche, who
club sources say is likely to sign a loan deal from Dynamo
Moscow, reuniting him with former Porto manager Jose Mourinho,
with whom he won the Champions League.
Maniche would offer cover for Michael Essien, who could be
away for a month playing for Ghana at the African Nations Cup.
Essien is also suspended for Chelsea's high profile
Champions League first knockout round tie against Barcelona in
February and March.
"If he comes, the manager knows a lot about him and his
character and will know he can fit in," Terry said. "Everybody
can see he's got great ability."
Maniche, who also won the UEFA Cup under Mourinho, should
slot in comfortably in front of former Porto team mates Ricardo
Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira.