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The club captain has denied suggestions that he is unhappy with interim manager Rafa Benitez, despite recently struggling to earn a starting berth under the Spaniard

Chelsea captain John Terry has denied rumours that he is unhappy with interim boss Rafa Benitez after failing to earn a starting berth upon his return from injury.

The 32-year-old was sidelined with a knee complaint for the start of the Spaniard's reign, and has since struggled to get beyond Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic in the pecking order.

But, after playing 90 minutes in Sunday's 4-0 FA Cup win over Brentford and scoring, Terry insists he is willing to fight for his place.

"People speak about me being upset. Naturally I want to play games," he told the London Evening Standard

"But I am not one to go in and knock the manager’s door down. I respect the other players. I’ve been out for four months and Branislav Ivanovic and Gary Cahill have been playing really well, both scoring, so it is going to be difficult for me to get back in.

"David Luiz can sit back in there as well, so I have to fight for my place, the same as everyone. I think it is important that comes across from me directly. When you are playing for 10 years you don’t just get selected. You have to play well, train well and impress managers.

NO TERRY & BENITEZ RIFT
30/1	John Terry is 30/1 with BetVictor to score the opening goal against Man City

"The most frustrating thing was that when Rafa came in, I wasn’t fit and I wasn’t able to impress him and show what I am about.

"It was a strange injury and it just needed time. It has been tough for me because it is the first time in my career that I’ve had an injury that has kept me out for so long.

"He has not seen me at 100 per cent. I still need a couple of games, that is clear. But if I am called upon all I can do is come in and play well."

The former England centre-back went on to insist that Benitez is under no pressure to pick him or veteran midfielder Frank Lampard.

"It is not about Rafa, me or Frank Lampard, it is not about anybody," he added.

"It is about this football club winning games and if we are doing that, the fans are happy. If that’s with me in the side, great, if not, then I will be their biggest supporter.

"If you are losing games, the pressure is on the manager. He has to take responsibility because he is the one who picks the team. But if we are winning games, and hopefully we can do that, it takes the pressure off him."