Terry more than earns new contract

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Whilst there were a number of outstanding performers in Chelsea blue during yesterday's League Cup final triumph over Tottenham, one man in particular has earned nationwide appreciation for his captaincy, leadership, and goalscoring heroics.

That man is John Terry.

Already promised a new contract late last year when José Mourinho said it was little more than a 'formality' that a new deal would be put on the table, the former England captain has been in sensational fettle in the 2014/15 campaign.

'There are no doubts that he is going to get another contract', said Mourinho in December 2014. 'I know that, he knows that. We in the club, in the board, we all know that and I think, also, you have to feel that. Without us confirming anything you have to feel that. He’s a very important player in the team so the next contract, sooner or later, will come. It’s a formality'.

Chelsea have a strict policy where all over-30s can only be offered twelve-month deals. Terry has accepted this with good grace and has been prolific for the Blues this season - a stark contrast to the 16 appearances he made over the six-month interim stewardship of Rafael Benítez in 2013.

Goalscorer yesterday - his sixth strike of the season - Terry has demonstrated an incredible degree of consistency which belies his age. At 34, like a fine wine, it appears the former England captain has improved with age.

Terry, who has 78 England caps, has been in such fine form that many have called for the Chelsea skipper to perform a u-turn and come out of international retirement. Nevertheless, speaking after yesterday's game, Terry admitted that becoming available to England manager Roy Hodgson again will never materialise.

'It has never crossed my mind to play for England again. I have drawn a line under it and the squad can move on', Terry stressed.

Having last played for England in 2012, the Three Lions' loss is surely Chelsea's gain. A clean bill of health has allowed Terry to make 36 appearances this term, and in turn he has now passed the 650 games mark for Chelsea this season - a feat only previously accomplished by Ron Harris, Peter Bonetti, and, more recently, Frank Lampard.

His form in that period has been crucial to Chelsea's successes so far, playing an integral role not just in yesterday's professional defeat of Tottenham, but also in the Blues' Premier League title bid and their UEFA Champions League campaign, too.

It surely is only a matter of time until Terry - Chelsea's captain, leader and legend - is awarded with a new deal that will ensure this Blues favourite can help usher in a new period of success at Stamford Bridge in the same way he did in the early days of Roman Abramovich's reign.