Chelsea No2 Eddie Newton says John Terry's influence was crucial to their Champions League final triumph.

Newton says that Roberto Di Matteo gave his manager's message at the team meeting before they travelled to the stadium.

"Then three of us - Robbie, myself and JT - were driving that dressing room before kick-off," Newton told the Mail on Sunday.

Terry, the club captain, told his team-mates: "To get this far has been a collective effort. It has been some journey, a huge amount of work and with sacrifices all round. Not all of us can play tonight but we all want to, and we'll be with you on the bench."

The game remained scoreless until Thomas Muller put Bayern ahead in the 83rd minute but Newton insists he still felt things might turn Chelsea's way.

"Even when Muller scored I wasn't thinking it was over," he said.

"I'd just had a funny feeling all day. I don't mean it felt predestined or anything silly. I had this calm aura. I didn't say anything to anybody else but I had this inkling something special was happening."