John Terry reckons his early goal killed off Schalke tonight as Roberto Di Matteo’s side went down with whimper in Gelsenkirchen.

The skipper headed in the opening goal with just two minutes on the clock and Chelsea would eventually put five past the Germans on the night.

It secured qualification to the Champions League knockout stages for the Blues and the 5-0 result guarantees Jose Mourinho’s boys will top the group.

Terry said: “The early goal killed them off and once the third one went in that was the end of it really.

It's five! Ramires celebrates after scoring the fifth goal for Chelsea

“It was a great performance and what we needed as well to top the group - that was the aim at the start of it - we’ve achieved that with one game to go and we’re delighted.

“With a busy schedule ahead it is important to go into that last game and perhaps give the manager the chance to rest one or two.”

Terry’s header was added to by Willian, a Schalke own goal and one each for second-half substitutes Didier Drogba and Ramires.