Chelsea skipper John Terry paid tribute to former England manager Fabio Capello on Tuesday for his support in the captaincy saga that led to the Italian’s sudden resignation.

Capello resigned last month after criticising the Football Association’s decision to strip Terry of the England armband following a delay in his trial for racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand.

Speaking about the issue for the first time on the eve of Chelsea’s Champions League clash with Napoli, Terry said he had appreciated Capello’s unwavering support when questioned by Italian journalists.

“Quite clearly, Fabio backed me,” Terry said.

“That comes from a relationship with myself and him, the relationship we built up.

“I stood for him on the football pitch, and he stood up for me off the pitch.

“I respect that from him, I respect him as a man and for what he did for me. Complete respect both ways.”

Terry, who denies the charges against him, is expected to line up for Chelsea on Wednesday after making a sooner-than-expected return from a knee injury.

Chelsea are bidding to overturn a 3-1 first leg deficit to progress to the quarter-finals.