Chelsea winger Salomon Kalou has revealed how skipper John Terry is the heartbeat of everything at Stamford Bridge.

Ivory Coast striker Kalou told The Sun: "The Chelsea family is so strong that It feels like the family I have back home. Over the past two years we have had so many problems and there always seems to be a new manager, but as players we have been there for each other. John Terry pushes us on. He has great spirit and cares for everyone.

"Every time a manager goes we talk together and sort it out. If you have a captain who leads the team you don't need a manager to put everyone together, the captain does it. He always ask you if you are OK and encourages you and says 'don't worry, make sure you are right - we need you.' That's what you want to hear from your captain. You know he's counting on you and thinking about you.

"If there is no one there to do that then you have real problems. You need that man between the manager and the players. If I have a problem I go to John and I know he will protect me. He is like an older brother.

"We live as family and of course sometimes there are arguments but we resolve them between us. That's how it is. It doesn't matter how much trouble we've been through we're still close to Manchester United.

"Last season we only lost the Premier League on the last day and the Champions League on penalties despite everything that happened. I am so grateful to be with this Chelsea family.

"Back in the Ivory Coast I grew up playing football without even a pair of boots and now I have all this. That is why when I go home I always take boxes full of Chelsea kit for the kids to encourage them and tell them they can achieve this, too.

"If I can make it, it gives them hope."