I'll always defend John Terry... and why he's better than Kompany, Rio, Campbell and Co

When the final whistle sounded and Liverpool's place in the 2005 final of the Champions League was secure, there was only one thing I wanted to do. 

It wasn't to join the rest of my delirious team-mates, who were dancing in front of the Kop. I didn't even want to run to the part of Anfield where I knew my family and friends would be, even though this was one of the biggest moments of my career.

No. The celebrating could wait. My initial thought after that energy-sapping and emotionally draining collision with Chelsea was over was to go and shake hands with John Terry, who - like me - had given every last ounce to try to get his team to Istanbul. 

Liverpool and Chelsea had gone toe to toe over two legs and the hallmark of each semi-final was brilliant defending - only one controversial goal separated us at the death. 

John, of course, was distraught to get so close but I just wanted to tell him how good he had been. 

We played the game the same way and that night in May 2005 we were like two boxers at the final bell. 

As Liverpool and Chelsea's rivalry escalated, I remember Rafa Benitez saying to me 'how lucky' Mourinho was to have a player such as Terry. I quickly told him he was lucky to have me and Rafa replied, pulling his hand away from his nose to mimic Pinocchio: 'Yes, yes! You're as good as Terry!' Not to be beaten, I replied with the same gesture: 'Yes, yes! You're as good as Mourinho!' 

But I could understand what Rafa meant. Terry had this ability to draw the ball to him like a magnet, always getting his head or his foot in the way just when it mattered. John was a better version of me and his form was one of the main reasons I retired from England. 

Those games took place almost nine years ago but the passing of time has not impacted on the  quality of performance Terry is still producing. If you asked me to select an all-time Premier League XI, he would be the first pick at the heart of my defence. 

Some outstanding central defenders have graced the Premier League, such as Rio Ferdinand, Ricardo Carvalho, Jaap Stam, Tony Adams, Sol Campbell and Vincent Kompany - players with the medals to match their talent. Terry, however, is the pick of the bunch. He is the only defender since Paul McGrath in 1993 to be named PFA Player of the Year and I don't believe it has ever been appreciated what a consistently outstanding operator he has been.

I accept it might be controversial to praise him, given some of the off-field controversies he has been embroiled in. They have been dissected at length on these pages. I just feel that the way he is viewed obscures his playing qualities