We are forever hearing of footballers and their need to do the talking on the pitch - and for Chelsea and their captain there was no time better than this weekend to take this advice

Fortunately for Chelsea fans alike we can be thankful that our reliable (in footballing terms) Captain rose to the challenge, and Frank Lampard’s late corner, and earned us a vital three points at an equally vital time in the race for the title.

What people need to do is step back, take a breath, and realise that football is one world and the private life of a multi-millionaire twenty-something is completely different.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not and can not justify the actions of a man who has torn through the lives of family and friends around him, but that is entirely it – it is their lives and completely nothing whatsoever to do with football.

In this celebrity obsessed society we all live in it is increasingly tough not to merge the two together, but as football fans we must remember John Terry for being our captain and most importantly one of Chelsea’s most influential players of our most successful years.

I think you will find most of the general public and the press will be lambasting Terry for weeks to come, but I think you would be more hard pushed to find a true member of the Chelsea faithful offering the same critique. It is not a question of morals and ethics; it is a question of football.

If he does lose his England captaincy, as the public so wishes, then it is more of a loss for England football team. The irony is his possible list of replacements have very colourful private lives themselves, but their time in the public eye has been and gone.

My judgement shall be reserved for when he starts to falter on the playing field, not off of it.