John Terry has set his sights on leading Chelsea to Premier League glory after finally confirming he is staying at Stamford Bridge.
The England captain released a statement before the club's 2-0 win over Club America here last night to say that he would not be joining Manchester City.
The 28-year-old, pictured above with the World Football Challenge Shield, insists he was never interested in going to City, whose last offer of £35million was turned down, but simply wanted reassurances over Chelsea's ambition.
He said: "From day one I had a call from chief executive Peter Kenyon telling me about the offer from Man City and that the club didn't want to sell me. From then on it was never an issue for me to leave Chelsea Football Club.
"I just wanted reassurances that key players around me like Didier Drogba and Ashley Cole, who are in contract talks at the moment, are going to be staying. Ash was brilliant last year. He has two years left on his current deal and I want these kind of players around me. I'm sure the fans feel the same.
"The ambition of the club has really impressed me and we are pushing in the right direction of where we want to be, pushing for the Premier League and the Champions League again, and the other trophies available to us.
"From a player's point of view we have massively missed getting our hands on that Premier League title — we've been close and haven't had that taste of it.
"This season we have a good feeling already, it is early days but we are playing well and that belief is back in the side. We ended last year on a high note and hopefully we can start well and push the other sides. Liverpool and Man United have lost big players, we haven't and we are looking to strengthen as well."
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He added: "We have failed to sign any real expensive players at the moment, but they have told me about the signings they have tried to make and that they have just fell short. Clubs are asking for too much but I'm pleased to know about it.
"Obviously a big signing would be fantastic, but we have a group of 25-26 players here who are more than capable of winning trophies for Chelsea."
He is also adamant that he hasn't used City's interest to try to negotiate a better deal, even though he is expected to get a pay-rise that will take him up to £150,000-a-week.
He said: "I have three years on my deal and from day one it has not been about a new contract.
"I haven't spoken about contract talks over the last five weeks. Hopefully if I have a good year they will start talking sooner rather than later."
