GUUS HIDDINK DESERVES JOB

JOHN TERRY has urged Chelsea to finally bury the ghosts of Jose Mourinho by appointing Guus Hiddink as permanent manager.

Mourinho still casts his formidable shadow over Stamford Bridge 15 months after his controversial departure. It's known some of the Chelsea squad want him back this summer.

But Terry says the club must move on and forget Jose if they're to win their first trophies since the Special One left. With Hiddink chasing glory on three fronts, his skipper thinks he is proven he is the right man to lead the Blues to glory.

Terry said: "Jose was a great manager, he's had some great times here but it's somebody else's turn now to kick on. We obviously need stability at the club now. The manager's come in and done brilliantly well. He's got all the lads together and got us playing freely as well.

"We would love him to stay. He's been a breath of fresh air since he's come in and taken over. He's on us every day in training, he always wants to improve and be better and he lets no one get away with anything, whether it is on the pitch or off it. He's done fantastically.

"It's down to the club to decide but things have gone very well since the manager's come in. I'm sure there will be talks ongoing. If we keep progressing well there can only be one option."

The influence of Terry and Frank Lampard is believed to be a key influence on Roman Abramovich's decision, but the skipper plays down the significance of his opinions.

He said: "Everyone thinks that people like me and Lampard get a big say in certain things. I think there are things we players are entitled to have our say on, things that happen in and around the training ground. But for things like that it is down to the board to make their decisions and it lies on them."

JOSE MOURINHO - world-class

If Hiddink stands firm on his decision to leave at the end of the season, Mourinho's name will crop up again. Terry admits it has been hard for the Chelsea players to forget the formidable influence he had during his three years in London.

He explained: "Mourinho's a world-class manager, a lot of the players are still in contact with him. When you get good managers coming through you learn a lot and want to stay in contact. A lot of players will stay in contact with managers for years on end. It's just good to have good relationships with good people."

This week's second leg Champions League quarter-final with Liverpool looks a formality and with an FA Cup semi-final to follow and title hopes not yet fully extinguished, Terry is quietly confident the post-Mourinho trophy drought is about to end at The Bridge.

He said: "Everyone's speaking about Man United and Liverpool at the moment. We want to keep it that way and go about our business quietly.

"Our victory at Anfield could have dent their title chances let alone their Champions League chances going forward. We are by no means out of this title race. We've got a great chance in the Champions League if we keep things tight at The Bridge. We're right in there and I think Liverpool and United both know that as well.

"The lads won't take anything for granted in this week's second leg, though. We've seen over the past few weeks what Liverpool can do, against United at Old Trafford and against Aston Villa. They've got goals in them from all over the park. We're halfway there and now we'll try to use playing the second at home to our advantage."

Ashley Cole wants to ensure Terry's absence through suspension on Tuesday has minimal impact so that the skipper can overcome last May's Moscow misery in Rome.

Cole said: "We don't want to let JT down in the second leg. The lads are behind him because that day in Moscow was so unlucky. When he missed that penalty we all missed it with him and we all felt it. Hopefully, we can make amends for him.

"Each and every one of us knows about that feeling and we don't want it again. We were so close to a great achievement for the club and players and, hopefully, we can get to the final again and win it this time.

"These are the times you want to play football, you want to be involved in Champions League finals and win trophies. We lost last year unluckily and this year I'm just hoping we can go one better."

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