Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti has compared the Blues' inspirational skipper John Terry to AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini, with both players having developed through their respective club's academies.

Ancelotti managed former Rossoneri captain Maldini for the last eight seasons of the Italian's illustrious career at the San Siro, and sees similarities with the way his current skipper Terry has grown up with Chelsea.

One of the most decorated footballers of all-time, Maldini won everything going during his 902 game club career, during which time he also made 126 appearances for the Italian national team, captaining the Azzurri for nearly eight years.

Like Maldini, 'Mr Chelsea' Terry is a one club man, having joined the Stamford Bridge club's youth team as a 14-year-old, and has gone on to make over 400 appearances for the Blues.

"Like Maldini at AC, Terry was born in this club. Like Maldini, he went through the academy at this club.

"And he has a very good feeling for this club, which is very important," the Italian told BBC London 94.9.

However, Ancelotti was less enthusiastic about Terry's chances of lifting the World Cup as England captain next summer, asserting that he felt it unlikely that any European team would prevail in the South Africa tournament.

"They [England] are one of the top teams in the World Cup, but destiny is not for the European team," he said.

"Never has a European team won the World Cup outside of Europe. This is difficult, not only for England but for all European teams."