Rafa may risk Terry as he goes in search of home comfort against Arsenal

By Laurie Whitwell for the Daily Mail

Published: 18:49 EDT, 18 January 2013 | Updated: 18:58 EDT, 18 January 2013

Rafael Benitez is weighing up whether to risk John Terry from the start against Arsenal tomorrow as he battles to improve Chelsea’s poor home form.

Stamford Bridge was the scene of more unrest this week after Southampton came back from two goals down to deny the European champions victory, and the interim manager believes his side may have missed the presence their captain brings.

Terry played 10 minutes against Stoke after eight weeks out with a knee injury but did not feature in Wednesday’s 2-2 draw.

Out in the cold: Literally, not figuratively - John Terry (left) could start on Sunday

Home hopes: Benitez needs to turn around Chelsea's home form

‘It’s important to have players with character on the pitch if you want to manage a game like the other day,’ said Benitez yesterday.

‘We have some good players. Some of them show more character. Others show different qualities. Sometimes we miss these things.

‘He’s one of the strong characters we have. To have people with this mentality can help. Hopefully he will be fine. We will see a positive influence,’ Rafa added.

‘We are working very hard with John and we’ll see how he feels. You have to see your players in every training session and afterwards decide.

‘Today was a light session, with the snow, and he was training with the team, doing everything.’ A photo of Terry signing autographs with Branislav Ivanovic was put on Chelsea’s Twitter feed.

‘He had his specific programme and was doing well,’ said Benitez. ‘If I ask him, or anyone, they’d say they want to play. I prefer not to ask and decide at the end.’

Benitez remains an unpopular figure at the Bridge, with defeats by QPR and Swansea  preceding the draw against Southampton, and the Spaniard knows owner Roman Abramovich expects him to win every competition entered.

But Benitez said he would prefer such  circumstances to those of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who has stayed in his job despite eight years without a trophy.

‘He has won a lot, and that is the reason why,’ said Benitez. ‘The way they won means they have confidence in him.’

But he added: ‘I like to be under pressure if I can win a trophy. To be in the middle of the table and stay there for 10 years is not my idea. I come from Real Madrid and there finishing second is not acceptable.’

Benitez continued: ‘We know since the arrival of people with big money, the Premier League has changed a bit. To manage a club with common sense used to be fine.

‘To have a good manager like Arsene Wenger was fine and you could achieve things. Now it’s a different world with clubs with big money. You cannot compare.’

Frustration: Chelsea were pegged back by Southampton after going 2-0 up in midweek