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LONDON: John Terry admits he could cause a rift at home when Chelsea face his kids' hero Lionel Messi in the Champions League semi-finals.
Terry's five-year-old twins, Georgie and Summer, are proud owners of Messi shirts and the Barcelona forward has become almost as much of a idol to them as their own father.
Now Terry's children have to decide who to support when the Blues take on holders Barca in the semi-finals later this month and the Chelsea captain knows he risks an ear-bashing when he gets back home if he kicks Messi during the matches.
“My kids love him,” he said.
“They both have Barcelona shirts with his name on the back and they like the fact I swapped shirts with him after one of our previous games.”
While many of Chelsea's players still hold bitter memories of their last meeting with Pep Guardiola's side in the 2009 Champions League semi-final, Terry isn't motivated by revenge for that controversial defeat.
Terry, whose team had several strong penalty appeals turned down in the second-leg three years ago, prefers to look at the tie as a chance to test himself against world-class talents like Messi.
“It's a pleasure because when you finish and you look back - and the guy's still going to be going strong - you've tested yourself against the best,” Terry said.
“And, quite clearly for me, he's the best ever. He's a great individual, a great person as well and a credit to the sport. For me, he's got everything. He is magical.”
The chance to end Barca's reign as European champions would excite any player, but it would be especially meaningful for Chelsea's senior stars, who have only made the final once despite reaching the semi-final five times previously.
“Listen, we realise it's going to be tough. They're a great side with great individuals,” Terry said.
“We're a good side as well and we've shown over the last two or three months we're a match for anyone.
“If we can be solid as we have been in the Champions League, who knows?
“It's obviously nice to say, 'We've done this, we've done that', but it's all about winning for me.
“We've not done that yet. That's our aim, that's our target, and that's always been the aim since owner Roman Abramovich came in.”
Few teams in Europe would be willing to take on Barca at their own smooth passing game and Chelsea would likely struggle to match Xavi and company's command of the ball.
But Chelsea have won all their European home matches this season and Terry believes a strong performance in the first leg at Stamford Bridge will be their best chance of reaching the final.
“Especially at home, I feel as though we take it to them a little bit,” he said.
“Not many teams have really done that. Whether or not that'll be our approach, I'm not sure. That's down to the manager.
“I wouldn't say Messi could be stopped but, collectively, they can be. We've shown that at the Bridge. Other times, they tear teams apart.”
