Terry’s continuing absence a mystery
Print Edition
WHEN Chelsea captain John Terry signed a one-year contract last May he could hardly have envisaged sitting impotently on the sidelines for half of the new campaign as his club stuttered to one of its worst starts in years.
In the wake of another poor defensive performance by Jose Mourinho’s team which lost 1-2 away to Porto in the Champions League on Tuesday, pundits and supporters alike are questioning how long the manager can continue to ignore a player he once described as ‘untouchable.’
Chelsea’s manager was forced to admit that none of his players came into that category now, which he proved by leaving out Player of the Year Eden Hazard, the previously reliable Nemanja Matic, Brazilian midfielder Oscar and Terry yesterday.
After playing for every minute of the 38 Premier League games last season, it was the fourth time in five matches that the club captain has been left on the bench. In only the second game of the season he had suffered the ignominy of being taken off at half-time as the defending champion lost 0-3 to Manchester City.
His only appearance recently was in front of barely 10,000 people for a League Cup tie at third-tier Walsall.
For the big games, England international Gary Cahill has been partnered in central defence with the 20 year-old Frenchman Kurt Zouma.
Neither impressed against struggling Newcastle United and Porto. Chelsea now has lost more matches than in the whole of last season.
With right-back Branislav Ivanovic given the captain’s armband and looking out of sorts, critics are wondering how long it can be before the Terry is recalled.
“What must John Terry think as he watches from the substitutes’ bench while Ivanovic seemingly survives error after error, match after match?” asked the Daily Telegraph yesterday. “The reason remains a mystery,” the Daily Mail wrote. “Can they be much worse with Terry at the back? He would bring leadership and organization at least.”
At 34, it is generally accepted that Terry may have lost a little pace, but many observers believe his vast experience would compensate.
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