Chelsea skipper John Terry insists the players did all they could to help former manager Andre Villas-Boas.

AVB was the shown the door midway through the season.

Terry told The Sun: "Naturally, I have a great level of sympathy for Andre.

"I certainly didn't want to see him out of a job and the players have to take a certain amount of responsibility.

"But it's absolute rubbish to suggest the players never lifted a leg for him, it simply isn't true.

"Given the results since AVB left he must be sat there scratching his head in disbelief.

"I'm still in touch with him and it won't be long before he returns to management."