Football
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John Terry: Nemanja Matic back at Chelsea as the complete player

Captain John Terry praised Nemanja Matic as a "complete player" after the midfielder earned Chelsea a Champions League win at Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday.

Matic's first-half header secured a 1-0 success in Portugal, which sees Jose Mourinho's men top Group G ahead of their double-header with Maribor of Slovenia.

The 26-year-old left Chelsea in 2011 for Benfica but returned to Stamford Bridge in January after a three-year spell, and Terry believes Chelsea are benefiting from Matic's development in Portugal.

"I thought he [Matic] was superb. Gary [Cahill] and I were saying how good he is sitting in front of us, breaking things up," he told Chelsea TV.

"He's also got a burst of speed when he gets it and dribbles through. He's come back a complete player and we're delighted he got on the scoresheet."

Matic's strike was valuable after Diego Costa and Andre Schurrle spurned opportunities, and Terry -- who made his 100th Champions League appearance on Tuesday -- admits he was relieved after Sporting failed to punish his side's profligacy.

"It could've been a lot more," said . "In the first half especially, we had a few chances.

"But [I am] delighted personally on my 100 games, but more importantly the three points. We needed that after dropping points at home [drawing 1-1 with Schalke]."

Matic converted a Cesc Fabregas free kick for the goal, and Terry hailed the summer signing from Barcelona as the Spain midfielder continues his fine start to life back in England.

"Most of our chances come from him [Fabregas] opening up defences," Terry added. "That's what he brings to the side, as well as his goalscoring ability."

Fabregas is in line to play against his former club Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, while Costa came through 90 minutes apparently unscathed despite his ongoing hamstring troubles and is again expected to start.

Thibaut Courtois was called upon only fleetingly by Sporting, and the Belgium goalkeeper is hoping for success with Chelsea this term after winning La Liga on loan at Atletico Madrid last season.

"Of course not every player gets the opportunity that I had,'' Courtois told the club's official website. "So it's normal to think about it and to hope to win it this year.

"The team as a group is strong and works well together, but if you look at everyone individually all the players are at the top level.

"We've had a good start to the season and we need to continue this way. We are a top team and we need to be first in the group."

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