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Terry hits back at critics

London - Former England captain John Terry insisted he is happy with his form in an interview published in many British newspapers on Thursday.

The centre-back, who was stripped of the England captaincy earlier in the season following revelations of an affair with a former team-mate's partner, has been widely criticised for his form, with many questioning whether he should any longer be an automatic choice for England.

"I'm totally fine with my form," he said. "For England, I think my performances have been very good right through the campaign and, as for Chelsea, I missed one game through suspension against Stoke last week but I think my form is fine, contrary to what everyone else is saying.

"I've played in almost every game for Chelsea this year, apart from one in the Carling Cup away to Blackburn and the suspension last week.

"If I'm going to play 50 or 60 games I'm expected to have one, two or three bad games, that's standard, you are not going to play well every game.

"Not even Wayne Rooney and Lionel Messi can do that. As a player it's inevitable you do have bad games, and it's all about how you respond. And I think I've responded well."

His club manager Carlo Ancelotti has also defended the player.

"I think that people are looking too much at his performances," the Chelsea manager said after defeat to Tottenham a fortnight ago in which Terry conceded a penalty and was sent off.

"He is doing very well. He has had a fantastic season. Maybe sometimes he has had problems and not played so well, but you have to look at the whole season."

Midfielder Frank Lampard, meanwhile, has described his team-mate's form as "brilliant".

"It's fashionable to have a pop at the top of the tree," he said, "but at Chelsea we know his true value."

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