Chelsea boss Benitez may risk Terry against Arsenal

Jan 19, 2013 11:10:00 AM

The centre-back has played just 10 minutes of football since November, but the Stamford Bridge manager has admitted his side has lacked character in recent weeks

Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez has hinted he may risk club captain John Terry against Arsenal on Sunday.

The centre-back was an unused substitute in the 2-2 draw against Southampton at Stamford Bridge in midweek, and made his first appearance since suffering injury against Liverpool in November in a 10-minute cameo against Stoke on January 12.

Benitez indicated after Wednesday's disappointing draw that he would not take any risks with team selection, but the defender has been training and may have done enough to convince the former Liverpool boss he is worth gambling on.

"I said I wouldn't take a risk but you have to see your players in every training session and afterwards decide," Benitez told reporters.

"On Friday we had a light session because of the the snow, and he was training with the team, doing everything. He had his specific programme and was doing well.

"If I ask him, or anyone, they would say they want to play. I prefer not to ask and decide at the end.

"It's difficult to say what a leader is. You can say that someone might be but but the players decide who the leaders are. It's something that happens.

"We have some good players. Some of them show more character. Others show different qualities.

"We have a group of players with quality and sometimes we miss these things. Experience doesn't mean you are a leader. It means you have experience."