Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti says he will grant John Terry some time off if the defender asks for it following revelations about his private life.
The Italian retained the 29-year-old as captain in the recent win over Burnley and Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Hull.
But amid reports Terry wants to miss the FA Cup tie with Cardiff on 13 February, Ancelotti said: "If he needs a holiday I will give him a holiday.
"It is an issue for me and John Terry, it is not your problem, I think."
Ancelotti, whose side missed the chance to go four points clear at the top of the Premier League by failing to beat Hull, added: "For him, nothing has changed. He has played a very good game and every game he is leading very well. He is doing his best every game."
England manager Fabio Capello is expected to decide whether Terry will keep the captaincy of the national side before he flies to Poland for this weekend's qualifying draw for the 2012 European Championships.
Terry's role has been called into question following allegations of an affair with the former girlfriend of England team-mate Wayne Bridge.
However, Ancelotti was keen to play down suggestions the furore surrounding the centre-back had affected the Chelsea dressing room.
The Premier League leaders were far from convincing in beating Burnley 2-1 at the weekend - and even less so in their draw at the KC Stadium.
The Italian stated: "The atmosphere in the team is the same. No change.
"I have never had a discussion with him about the accusations. I like to speak to my players but I don't like to speak about this. It is not a question I want to speak about here."
And Ancelotti also insisted that the interest in Terry would not derail Chelsea's battle for the title, with the Blues top of the Premier League by two points from Manchester United and six ahead of Arsenal.
"Nothing can disturb our concentration in this competition," he added. "I think that Chelsea are focused for every game.
"Sometimes we play good football and sometimes we have more difficulty but the concentration is always on top."
However, Ancelotti was content to take a point back to Stamford Bridge after conceding Chelsea were not at their best at the KC Stadium.
"We did our best but it was a tough game," he said. "Hull played a good game and it's a good result.
"We don't have to be disappointed, sometimes it can happen against a small team, we can draw. We are at the top of the table and have to look forward.
"We are in a good position now. We know it will be a long race until the end of the season and for now we are happy with two more points. It was an opportunity but it is impossible to win every game."
Hull boss Phil Brown admitted that the level of interest in Terry's appearance had taken him aback.
"You had the John Terry effect and you had the whole media circus that is surrounding this situation John finds himself in," he said.
"For the team coach to come into the internal grounds of the KC Stadium and be followed by all the cameras, then you realise the intensity of the situation.
"But as far as we're concerned we were focused on playing football."
Source: BBC
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