As Antonio Conte forges his own path at Chelsea, is this the start of a long goodbye for John Terry? Sunday’s dominant win against Manchester United did more than just send fans home happy; it showed that Chelsea were capable of winning big matches without him.
Chelsea’s Terry Reliance?
Big loses in the Premier League away at Arsenal and home to Liverpool in Terry’s absence had again raised questions about Chelsea’s summer transfer activity and the long term planning of the club. The reliance on Terry appeared yet again to show that not only had the signing of David Luiz from Paris Saint Germain been one of desperation. It also showed that the club’s dogged attempt to adhere to Financial Fair Play rules was restricting them from paying top dollar for the names on Antonio Conte’s wish list.
Terry’s Contract Extension
During the PR cold war and brinkmanship of last season’s contract saga, Chelsea did appear to be genuinely considering allowing the club captain to leave. Terry was finally offered a new deal on reduced wages, with it being made clear that he could not expect to be guaranteed first team action even when fully fit. He would remain as captain but be a further link between the youth set up and the first team, providing a welcoming environment for youth team prospects as they forged their pathway towards the senior side.
So far this has shown some benefits with Nathanial Chalobah being given his first ever appearance against Leicester City in the EFL Cup, and more recently his first start in a Chelsea shirt. Having been on loan six times in the past four years, amassing over 90 senior appearances, fans are pleased to see Chalobah given his chance. Ola Aina and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have also seen first-team action. Dominic Solanke has also been called up to the matchday squad for recent matches.
It would be unfair on the individuals mentioned above to put their recent opportunities down to Terry’s influence as it is undoubtedly a product of their hardwork and talent; but, Terry is known to be a champion of the Chelsea youth set-up and an advocate of promoting talent from within the club. He can often be seen at Cobham watching the youth teams play, staying on after first-team training to do so. Terry is also taking his coaching badges; a sign that he is looking to a career beyond his playing days.
Ankle Injury Frustration
The ankle injury suffered towards the end of the game against Swansea in September came at a bad time for both player and manager. Conte was riding a wave of some good results, if not yet on the back of stellar performances. Terry was proving to be a reliable constant in the heart of the defence with both Branislav Ivanović and Gary Cahill out of form.
With Terry injured and after the aforementioned losses to Liverpool and Arsenal, Conte’s hand was forced. He could no longer continue with the 4-2-3-1 system that had carried the Blues through recent seasons. The answer was a switch to his favoured 3-4-3 formation. Since the tactical adjustment Chelsea’s performances have improved and clean sheets have returned. David Luiz has also been given the freedom to play out from the back, safe in the knowledge that he has the protection of César Azpilicueta and Cahill behind him.
Wednesday’s game at the London Stadium against West Ham United – consequently overshadowed by shocking events off the pitch – saw a return to action for Terry at the heart of a three man defensive unit. Terry’s lack of pace was exposed and he was out jumped by Cheikhou Kouyaté for West Ham’s first goal, with the ball fizzing through his legs following a shot by Edimilson Fernandes for the Hammers second.
Conte’s New Look Blues
Conte has continued to publicly stand by his captain. In Friday’s pre-match press conference he responded to questions about Terry’s performance by telling reporters ‘John came back from an injury and it is not easy to find the right shape. John is an important player for us, if he plays or if he doesn’t play, for the changing room and for the club.’
Going forward though there have to be serious doubts in Conte’s mind over whether the 35-year-old Terry (who celebrates his 36th birthday in December) will be able to adapt to playing in a three man back line, where pace and athleticism play more of a prominent role than in a flat back four. For all of his very desirable qualities as a player and as a captain, and whilst arguably still the best English centre half playing today, Terry’s natural game is not suited to playing in Conte’s system, a system that has shown so far to be a more effective use of Nemanja Matić, N’golo Kante and most importantly, Eden Hazard.
Spaniard Cesc Fabregas has found to his detriment this season that whilst having exceptional ball playing talent, Conte looks for more in his players. Anyone watching the European Championships in the summer will have witnessed midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini excel for Italy, despite having a less than glowing reputation amongst English football fans following a disappointing spell at Sunderland. Giaccherini’s workrate and desire stood out to Conte who rewarded his efforts with playing time. This is a scenario replicated this season at Chelsea with Victor Moses. The Nigerian had been written off by large members of the Stamford Bridge faithful before being converted to a right-wing back and starring in Conte’s new look Chelsea.
The Long Goodbye?
Terry is wise enough to know that his time at Chelsea will be coming to an end. In January there will only be a matter of six months until his contract expires. It was at that point last season after an FA Cup tie at MK Dons that Terry announced Chelsea had told him there would be no new contract on offer and that he should look for a new future beyond Chelsea. If the same conversation happens between Terry and the club including the wishes of Conte this January, for the sake of his reputation and for a show of dignity, both Chelsea and Terry should not entertain repeating the shenanigans of last year and gracefully announce a collective decision.
Whether you like him or not, Terry’s service to Chelsea as a player has been exceptional. The plaudits and accolades showered upon Steven Gerrard prior to his departure from Liverpool showed that for all the staunch tribal partisanship in English football, fans do have a deep sense of respect for players of rival clubs that have contributed to England as international players and have achieved greatness for their clubs.
Chelsea have a poor recent track recording in this area, with neither Frank Lampard nor Ashley Cole afforded their final moments at Chelsea to be celebrated with the fans. Supporters were told post-season that Cole and Lampard were no longer required by the club, denying fans from being able to show their appreciation for years of service and unprecedented success. The exception to this was Didier Drogba after he returned to Chelsea for one final season in Mourinho’s 2014 title winning triumph. It would only be right that if this season is Terry’s long goodbye to Chelsea and the Premier League, that it is dealt with properly, openly and honestly so that Chelsea’s Captain, Leader, Legend is able to receive the respect he deserves.
Main Photo
