John Terry has warned Manchester United that Chelsea are already bent on regaining the Premier League title after all but surrendering it this season.
The champions' 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford on Sunday saw United move six points clear with just two matches remaining and captain Terry has vowed to do everything possible to wrest back the crown next year.
The 30-year-old revealed he had made a point of congratulating Sir Alex Ferguson, even though it "hurt" to do so. He told Chelsea TV: "I just wished him well. You have to be graceful in defeat and we have enjoyed the times we have won.
"Over the years, he has popped in and said congratulations to us and he and his team are well respected across the world. But it does hurt when you do it and it drives you on as well. You get a focus for next year and we will be aiming to take it off them."
Terry blamed what is set to be Chelsea's poorest season since Roman Abramovich bought the club not on Sunday's defeat but on their worst run in the League for almost 15 years at the end of 2010.
He said: "I remember United topping the form guide when we were probably down the bottom of it somewhere and that coincided with them overtaking us.
"We were in control and then we hit a run of bad form and we couldn't get out of it. We dropped points home and away and that proved to be vital."
Terry will be hoping to shake off a knock in time for Sunday's final home game of the season against Newcastle.
The England defender said: "I got a knock in the first half when I was aiming to shepherd the ball out and Wayne [Rooney] just caught me on my hip. It got worse and worse in the game."
