One year on... John Terry will carry anti-racism message on to field

On the anniversary of Ferdinand confrontation Chelsea's captain returns to face Donetsk tonight

Chelsea captain John Terry (GETTY IMAGES)

No matter how much Chelsea want their entertaining football to do the talking, the subject of racism and John Terry will still be at the forefront this evening. All eyes will be on the captain, once again, here as he returns to lead the side against Shakhtar Donetsk, but his timing could not be more awkward.

The 31-year-old defender served the first of his four-game ban for racially abusing Queen's Park Rangers' Anton Ferdinand against Tottenham on Saturday, however he is free to play in the Champions League. Unfortunately, his swift presence back in Chelsea's starting line-up coincides with the beginning of Fare's Action Weeks across Europe, which highlights their cause against discrimination.

Among the events planned for the night, children will walk out beside the Chelsea players wearing "Unite Against Racism" T-shirts and Terry will put on an armband which states the same message. The fact he is making this statement exactly a year to the day since the ugly confrontation with Ferdinand took place at Loftus Road provides another telling twist to proceedings.

Terry continues to point to the not guilty verdict that was read out at the end of a high-profile court case in July and will argue this is a chance for him to send out the right sort of message.Still, such a sight could be hard for some in the game to stomach, especially those who feel the Football Association and Chelsea, who only issued their employee with a fine of two weeks' wages, have been too lenient in their treatment of him.

However, coach Roberto Di Matteo is not perturbed about what people think of his selection policy or whether Terry's performance may be adversely affected by all the negative attention.

Di Matteo said: "I've never been concerned about picking him. He's been able to focus on the games and that's what the players love to do, playing football and it's good for them that they can focus on that. With good performances and good behaviour in the future he should still be looked upon as the leader for our club."

When asked if he was confident the centre-half would be able to play at the same level under the circumstances, he replied emphatically: "Yes, absolutely." Terry's chances of doing just that have also been helped by taking the unusual step of playing 45 minutes for the reserves in a friendly against Arsenal last Wednesday.

It was necessary because, otherwise, he would be going into this match having gone over two weeks without any action on the pitch. There should not be a problem mentally either. Terry is no stranger to controversy and has often excelled when the cameras have been focused firmly upon him.

Bizarrely, Terry appears to thrive, rather than be diminished, on such occasions. "Everybody's different from that point of view, dealing with issues," Di Matteo added.

"But what is common for players is that, even if they have family problems or some kind of issues outside in their private life, they tend to be able to focus on the football because it kind of just helps them."

It is hard not to feel some sympathy for Di Matteo, who has had the issue overshadow not only the preparations for this game, but his achievements for the seven months he has been in charge at Stamford Bridge.

Last season he claimed the FA Cup and Champions League and this term the team are playing with flair as they sit at the top of the Premier League.But most of the talk still surrounds his captain and it is an added pressure to what is an already intense job. How does he cope? "You kind of get into a rhythm. I've had a good baptism, I have to say, from the day I took over last season. You just deal with the pressure. I'm sleeping very well though."

He is all too aware that tonight's opponents, who have set a new Ukrainian record of 21 straight League wins in the country's top division, could give him a cause for insomnia.

Chelsea are only above Shakhtar in Group E on goal difference and Di Matteo concluded: "Yeah, yeah, I know all the stats. Shakhtar are a very good side and I'm not sure everyone is fully aware of that because people don't know too much about the Ukrainian league and don't feel it's as strong as some European leagues but they've a good record in European competition as well."

Related articles...

Lenient John Terry punishment sparked Kick It Out boycott claims former England striker Cyrille Regis

Shakhtar Donetsk's boys from Brazil ready to conquer Continent, beginning with Chelsea

Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo not considering Manchester United clash in team selection for Shakhtar Donetsk