Returning to pre-season training for John Terry this season would have been difficult, but he’s a professional and will keep going. The former England captain is the last standing player from Jose Mourinho’s first Chelsea side, where it really kicked off for Chelsea as a football club.
Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba have now both left, with Terry standing alone from the former trio of close friends and team-mates. The last to leave was Petr Cech, who is another fan favourite at Chelsea, but has joined Arsenal seeking regular football.
There’s no wonder that Terry is in a reflective mood ahead of this new season, thinking back on some good times. Terry had one if his best seasons in a long time last campaign, featuring in every minute of every Premier League game. However, the Englishman knows that he isn’t getting any younger, and time is starting to run out on his professional career.
Terry turns 35-years-old in December, but is doing everything he can to prevent his football ability getting slower to the point where he needs replacing. He was doing his own personal training every day to keep himself in the best possible shape.
If you look back, I would not have thought I’d be the last one here to be honest. I am still delighted to be here. Players come, players go and the club moves on – and the aim is still to win things, which is the most important. I realise one day that my career will come to an end so I want to give everything these next few years.
I am 35 at Christmas so I am looking at a couple of years. Every summer I work more or less every day to give myself the best chance. If it comes to that point where I am left out of the side, I know it’s not through any fault of not trying. To look at myself in the mirror and my family, that is all I do in my career.
John Terry, Source:Â Standard
When a close team-mates leaves the football club, it’ll be hard for anyone. However, when a close-friend and a long time team-mate leaves to join a rival, it tends to hurt that little bit more. When Lampard was playing for Manchester City for 12 months last season, Chelsea fans, and probably players, found it hard to take.
It’s now Cech’s turn. The ‘keeper has the prospect of being the Gunners’ #1 between the sticks for multiple seasons yet.
People will start to ask the question as to whether Terry will play for another team, in the Premier League or elsewhere. Should his first team chances at Stamford Bridge start to dry up, will he go elsewhere seeking regular playing minutes before he makes the decision to retire?
To Chelsea, Terry’s loyalty has been faultless since 1998, when he made his professional debut for the west London club.
If I felt Chelsea were going to release me or thought I had nothing else to give, but I thought I could, then of course I would still want to continue to play. But that would not be in the Premier League for sure.
