MODEST Morton manager Jim Duffy has played down claims that his coaching was significant in John Terry’s development as a defender — even though they were made by the player himself.

In a trophy-laden career, Chelsea star Terry has won three English Premier League titles, five FA Cups, two League Cups, the Champions League, the Europa League as well as 78 England caps. He once told how Duffy, who was a youth coach at Stamford Bridge at the turn of the millennium, taught him valuable lessons on the art of defending, tackling in particular, in one-to-one sessions.

Duffy has fond memories of his time at the Blues working with the likes of Terry and is aware of the credit the 33-year-old centre-half has put his way.

But it is not in the Ton boss’s nature to blow his own trumpet and he is typically self-effacing while discussing his time with the London side under Gianluca Vialli.

When asked about the tale Terry told of how Duffy taught him to tackle, he said: “John was very aggressive and dived in a lot, and in the modern-day game you’re going to get sent off for that.

“He was going in two-footed, lunging in — and he could also end up getting himself hurt by experienced players too.

“With his natural aggression and desire to win the ball, he didn’t think about that too much. So I had a wee test for him.

“I said: ‘Put the ball down and we’ll go in for a 50-50.’ He went for it, and I just let him win the ball and tramped on his leg.

“After that I told him: ‘You can go in to win the ball all day long but if you go in against an experienced player, he’ll let you have it [the ball].’ “I left a couple of studs on his inner thigh, not because I was tough but because I knew he’d come in lunging for the ball and wanted to show him what I meant. After that John said it taught him how to tackle, but it didn’t really teach him how to tackle. What it meant was that if you can avoid lunging in, avoid lunging in.

“You can’t do that in the modern game. That was 10 or so years ago and the game has changed even more. You very rarely see John Terry diving in.

“His body position also used to be a bit straight and he wasn’t the most supple, but he became a lot more supple and much better in that respect.” He added: “If I’ve added even one per cent to John Terry’s game then that’s great — but I think the other 99 per cent was down to him.

“I wouldn’t take too much credit even though John’s been very kind over the years and said in interviews I was a bit of an influence on his career.

“That’s just him being nice. Me, personally, I’d say it would have been a minimal effect.

“He was just a young boy making his way and on the fringes of the first-team at the time.

“What I did was give him a wee bit of guidance to protect him and make sure he didn’t get injured by experienced pros, and by and large he’s had not a bad career!” Back in 2004, Terry said: “I see Jim once in a blue moon now if he ever comes down to Chelsea — but I’d loved to have kept more in contact because I owe him a lot.

“I had two years working under Jim between 17 and 19. He took a particular interest in me and another defender, John Harley, and we had chats after training.

“Looking back, it was invaluable what I got from Jim, to have an experienced former player who actually wanted to teach me. I’ve not forgotten what he taught me.”