01.03.2015 19:33 h

Terry joy at 'massive' Wembley win

John Terry hailed Chelsea's League Cup final triumph against Tottenham as a massive moment in Jose Mourinho's second spell in charge.

Terry put Chelsea on course for a 2-0 victory when the Blues captain fired home on the stroke of half-time and Kyle Walker's second-half own goal ensured Mourinho would claim his first silverware since his return to Stamford Bridge in 2013.

Mourinho's maiden trophy of his original stint as Chelsea manager was also the League Cup in 2005 and that was followed by the Premier League title just months later.

And, with Chelsea on top of the league once again, Terry hopes the win at rain-soaked Wembley will prove a springboard to more glory.

"It's the first trophy this season and it's massive. It meant an awful lot to us when we won it in Jose's first year in 2005 as well," he said.

"That could be the start of something very good. We have to kick on and we have got the league to focus on, but it's a great day and a great win.

"The pressure was there before the game, obviously, but that's what cup finals do to you.

"In the first half it was even, but we controlled it a little bit better in the second half. We were deserved winners.

"The manager made it clear from the outset we were out to win this competition. It's credit to the manager and the squad."

Mourinho's pre-match selection gamble proved the key to Chelsea's victory as he surprisingly selected French defender Kurt Zouma to fill in for the suspended Nemanja Matic in central midfield.

Zouma, 20, adapted superbly to his unfamiliar role and harried Tottenham's playmakers into submission, cutting off the supply lines to in-form striker Harry Kane and making Mourinho's move look a masterstroke.

Chelsea defender Gary Cahill agreed it was an inspired switch by the Portuguese coach.

"Kurt Zouma for such a young lad to come in to the team, he's been fantastic, and he played an unfamiliar position today. He's a great boy, a fantastic talent," Cahill said.

"They made it tough, they had a couple of chances in the first half but the skipper (Terry) stood up for us with the goal.

"Diego (Costa) was superb, and every single player on the pitch gave 100 percent."

With title rivals Manchester City losing 2-1 at Liverpool earlier in the afternoon, it was a perfect day for Chelsea, who retain a five-point lead at the top of the league, and Cahill believes more success is on the horizon.

"This is what you get when you work hard, and it's special for me too because I've never won the League Cup before," Cahill said.

"This sets up a good finish to the season. Against our local rivals, clean sheet, we've won the cup, it's an amazing feeling."