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John Terry fighting the pain for Chelsea's cause

The defender has two cracked ribs and breathing problems. Terry needs painkilling injections to lead his side.

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John Terry, the former England captain, is intending to play through the pain of two cracked ribs and breathing problems in an attempt to lead Chelsea to the finals of both the Champions League and FA Cup.

A scan on Thursday revealed that Terry had suffered the double fracture when he was elbowed in the body during the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Benfica 10 days ago.

It is understood he took a painkilling injection to play in Chelsea's 4-2 win against Aston Villa last Saturday and again before Wednesday's Champions League second leg against Benfica when he was forced off after 60 minutes because of problems with his breathing. Although the delayed discomfort from having a pain-numbing injection is considerable, the bigger threat to his availability is the related difficulties in breathing.

On Wednesday, Terry was suffering as early as the first half but it was still no coincidence that Chelsea suddenly became vulnerable after he left the field. With Chelsea facing seven matches in just 23 days, including the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona and an FA Cup semi-final with Tottenham, the injury could hardly have come at a worse time.

Terry, though, is adamant that he will not miss matches at this most critical period of Chelsea's season and it is understood that he is willing to play with painkilling injections.

"I don't think it will mean I'm out at all," said Terry. "It's just a case of managing it. I know there are ways around it. With the ribs you can't really do anything, you can't treat the injury or massage it to make it better. You just have to let it heal. The guys have got a few ideas to get me through games."

Of Wednesday's experience, Terry said: "I couldn't breathe and my chest was closing up. I was having a difficult time. It's just horrible. I thought it was OK but, later in the second half, it just seemed to be getting worse. I have never felt anything like that before. You can't treat it, but I can get through games, definitely."

Chelsea released a statement last night to say that Terry's injury would be monitored and assessed daily. His pain threshold is famously high. During the 2007 Carling Cup final, he was knocked unconscious and taken to hospital but still returned to the Millennium Stadium later that day to take part in Chelsea's victory celebrations. He also played in the 2008 Champions League final just 11 days after dislocating his elbow.

Terry regards Chelsea's previous Champions League showdowns against Barcelona as being among his career highlights. Chelsea eliminated Barcelona in 2005 but then lost in controversial circumstances both in 2006 and 2009. They also met in the group phase in 2006-7. Terry played in all eight of those matches and is savouring the prospect of testing himself against Lionel Messi, a player he regards as the greatest in football history.

"It's something for me that I can tell my kids that I've played against Messi when we watch him on television," said Terry. "For me he's got everything. He is magical to watch. I wouldn't say he could be stopped, but collectively they can be. It's a pleasure to pit myself against him. When I finish and look back, and he will still be going strong, I will be able to say to myself I tested myself against the best. And quite clearly, for me, he is the best ever. He's a great individual player but a great person as well and a credit to football."

Although Chelsea have regressed and Barcelona have improved since those previous Champions League meetings between 2005 and 2009, Terry is taking hope from a sequence that saw the clubs share four draws and two wins apiece.

"They have been some of my proudest memories as a Chelsea player," said Terry. "When they came here, especially, I feel we've shown we can take it to them a little bit. Not many teams have really done that to them.

"We know it will be very tough because, over the past four or five years, they're one of the best teams ever. We are a good side as well and we've shown over the last two or three months that we're a match for anyone. Two months back I'd have bitten someone's hand off to be where we are now.

"We've been close so many times [in the Champions League] but everyone knows we haven't done that yet. That's our target and it's always been the aim since the owner came in."

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