Friday 9 December 2016 06:54, UK
It was 15 years ago this week John Terry first captained Chelsea. The Blues are now top of the Premier League but their skipper - who turned 36 on Wednesday - is currently out of the first-team frame. Here, we take a look at whether he can force his way back into Antonio Conte's plans…
Chelsea's impressive 3-1 comeback win over Manchester City on Saturday was their eighth consecutive Premier League victory and maintained their place at the top of the standings.
For the second week in succession they turned the tables on a title rival, after seeing off London neighbours Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea's current run of fine form has had many drawing comparisons with the record-breaking Blues side which stormed to a first championship triumph in 50 years in 2005, as well as the 2014/15 champions, who won the Premier League comfortably.
Four-time winner John Terry was central to both Chelsea's first and most recent Premier League titles but, 15 years after he was handed the captain's armband for the first time, the inspirational skipper is watching on as his team-mates thrive without him.
When Terry suffered ankle ligament damage in the 2-2 draw with Swansea in September, the obvious question was: "How soon will he be back?" He is, after all, the club's all-time most successful captain and, up until that point, was seen as an essential figure on the field.
Indeed, he impressed so much in the second-half of last season that then-England manager Roy Hodgson was quizzed on whether he would consider asking the centre-back to come out of international retirement for Euro 2016.
However, Antonio Conte had to find an immediate solution after back-to-back defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal. The Italian switched to a three-man defensive system of Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz and Gary Cahill, with Marcos Alonso and the rejuvenated Victor Moses operating on either side. Since the change, only two goals have been conceded and Chelsea have gone on that eight-game winning run.
Terry, who remains out with a separate injury, has himself acknowledged the difficulty he will face getting back into the team when he's fit again. "I'm in a position now where the team is playing unbelievable, playing really well, not conceding goals and I can't get in the team and that's a good thing. I'm so happy for the boys and the team," he said.
"In the nicest way, I hope I don't get back into the team because it means we continue to win football matches."
While Conte would not be keen to disrupt a settled, successful defence, when fit again Terry's experience and proven ability will naturally see him pushing for a return. Would he slot into the new system, though?
Apart from a six-minute cameo in the 5-0 demolition of Everton, Terry has not figured from the start of any game since the EFL Cup tie at West Ham at the end of October. It was the first time he had played in a 3-4-3 formation and it wasn't a success. The former England international was blamed for the two goals Chelsea conceded in their defeat at the London Stadium that night.
Conte is a fan, though. When he took charge in the summer, it was he who had sanctioned the offer of a 12-month extension for Terry, who had appeared to be heading for the exit. Having played with the likes of legendary AC Milan duo Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi, Conte knew the importance of longevity and its effect on the team.
"Terry is captain of this team and a great player with a great personality and charisma," Conte said in his first press conference. "I like to speak with him because he knows the club and the right spirit to play in this club."
The stats are on Terry's side, too. He out-performed his fellow central defenders last season when it came to interceptions and passing accuracy, while he made fewer errors leading to shots. He also ranked in the top two among Chelsea's regular defenders for tackle success and blocks.
But beyond individual facts and figures, Conte's system is dependent on the organisation and understanding his back-three and wing-backs have developed.
While the impressive return of Cesc Fabregas to the starting line-up against Man City serves as a reminder that injury and suspension can open the door, with Chelsea flying and Kurt Zouma returning from a long-term absence, Terry seems set for more time on the sidelines.
As long as the Blues keep on winning he won't mind - too much - but with his contract set to expire in the summer, Terry will also be eager to show he can still contribute to another Chelsea title charge.
