Drogba's sensational remarks stunned Chelsea but the striker has since said he regretted making them public and has reaffirmed his commitment to the club.

Drogba's attitude cannot be faulted after helping Chelsea beat Schalke 2-0 with a second-half goal in their Champions League clash on Wednesday night.

It was his second strike since making his controversial comments in France Football magazine and Terry followed goalkeeper Petr Cech in offering his full support to the Ivorian.

Terry, battling to regain fitness following knee surgery, said: "Didier is a winner, he wants to win for Chelsea, everyone knows that and we all know he loves the club.

"As long as we stay together as players, that's what matters. Then we will be all right."

Drogba's goal, just two minutes after the interval, ensured Chelsea remained top of Group B.

He deftly sent a glancing header beyond Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer after Paulo Ferreira's inch-perfect cross had picked him out on the edge of the six-yard box.

Chelsea had been given a dream start against the Bundesliga side when Neuer allowed Florent Malouda's shot to go straight through his legs after only four minutes.

Schalke never recovered although they did hit an upright midway through the second half.

The victory left coach Avram Grant's Champions League record unblemished. It is now two wins out of two in the competition for the Israeli, who took charge after Jose Mourinho left by mutual consent last month.

Grant was happy with the performance - achieved on billionaire owner Roman Abramovich's 41st birthday - and insists it will take time to achieve his desire to turn Chelsea into an attacking force.

But he too had words of support for Drogba by claiming the striker was doing all the right talking on the pitch.

Grant declared: "We can play better. But we played positive, good football and scored two goals and could have scored more. We are in first place in the group table with seven points so you can't ask for any more at this stage.

"I think Didier's goal was a very good one in terms of the combination. It was a very good cross from Paulo Ferreira and Didier scored. I like each goal that comes from a combination like that.

"I don't like to speak about players personally but Didier is a very positive person and he speaks on the pitch as he needs to speak on the pitch - he is doing that very well."