Wednesday 6 April 2016 13:09, UK
Former Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell believes incoming boss Antonio Conte must make keeping captain John Terry at the club a priority.
Italy coach Conte will replace interim manager Guus Hiddink at Stamford Bridge following this summer's European Championships.
Blues skipper Terry announced earlier in the year that he would leave the club at the end of this season, after failing to agree a new deal.
Speaking on Sky Sports Now, Sidwell thinks Terry's experience is invaluable, and that Conte should seek to extend the 35-year old's 18-year career with the club.
"The main one is John Terry - there's no doubt Conte will have a chat with him, first and foremost, to see what his thoughts are," said Sidwell, who spent the 2007-08 season at Stamford Bridge.
"You know what you're going to get from him. He's a leader on the pitch, and always puts himself on the line with the club. The thing you wonder with John is, what are they going to offer?
"Of course he's still good enough. Last year he was fantastic - he had Matic in front of him, but this year, Matic has not been at his best, which has left John a little exposed.
"He's one of the better centre-halves in the country, there's been talk of having him back in the England squad for the Euros."
Sidwell is expecting Conte to offer Chelsea something similar to former manager Jose Mourinho, who was sacked in December.
The Brighton midfielder, however, believes the Chelsea players did Mourinho no favours earlier in the season, and has fears the same could happen to Conte if things do not go the team's way.
"He's quite similar to Jose. He's very meticulous and demands a lot from his players. The only thing that worries me with the set of players is that a lot of them just downed their tools with Mourinho," added Sidwell.
"Who's to say they're not going to do that next year when this man is in charge? When he demands things, drags people off at half-time in big games, or makes statements?
"It's going to be similar to what Mourinho demanded. It's down to the players to adapt to that and prove their worth in the team. I don't think he will take any prisoners along the way."
