Jose Mourinho has provided the clearest indication
yet that he will recommend Chelsea offer skipper
John Terry a new 12-month contract.
It is club policy to offer over-30s only one-year deals,
and 34-year-old Terry’s existing arrangement expires
at the end of the season.
The Chelsea captain remains a first-choice member
of Mourinho’s squad, forming a formidable
partnership with Gary Cahill in central defence.
Chelsea’s manager will make his recommendations
to the Blues hierarchy regarding Terry’s contractual
situation nearer the end of the season. And the
Portuguese has given a major hint that Terry will be
offered a new deal after claiming the former England
captain could play for at least three more years.
‘Every individual is an individual,’ said Mourinho.
‘There are old players at the age of 22. I know some
— 22 and old. I know young guys at 36 or 37. John is
one of them. I had Javier Zanetti at Inter who was
already 37. When the other guys came after a day off
from training, he’d run from his home to burn the
energy from his day off. I don’t know (how long Terry
can play). You never know when. The important thing
is that, tomorrow, it’s the next match and he’s in
great condition to play.’
Mourinho’s second spell in charge at Stamford
Bridge has given Terry a new lease of life when it
looked as if his Blues career was fizzling out under
Rafa Benitez.
And the Special One, who also insisted Eden Hazard’s
new contract will be settled soon, provided a simple
explanation.
‘Our training methodology helps. The way he is taking
care of himself is very important too,’ Mourinho said,
‘but the most important thing of everything is to be
happy. I read a famous neurologist who said, “We
docs always say do some exercise, eat properly, be
careful with salt, be careful with this protein, but we
forget to tell people the most important thing: be
happy.”
‘John had a period here of so many doubts, question
marks. Is he still the same player? Can he play at this
level? Is he fit? Will he play or be in the stands?
‘Then, suddenly, the happiness arrives and look at
him. It’s been a process. When I arrived we played a
European Super Cup and he was not playing. At that
moment, he was happy but he was not ready for the
high level. So it was also a process. But the reality is
he played so well last season and this season, too.’
Meanwhile, Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois has
been ruled out of today’s home match with Hull City
with a minor leg injury, paving the way for Petr Cech
to make his first Premier League start this season.
Insisting that Cech will not be leaving next month,
Mourinho said: ‘He doesn’t need to prove anything to
me, the club, his team-mates, to supporters. It’s
comfortable to know our goalkeeper tomorrow is
Petr Cech.
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