Shellito: Terry is too old to play for Chelsea

Former Chelsea defender Ken Shellito believes that captain John Terry is too old to play for the club.

After much speculation that he would be let go this summer, Terry was eventually offered a new one-year deal to extend his career at Stamford Bridge, but Shellito feels that the 35-year-old is past his best.

As reported by ESPN, Shellito said: “I have always had a lot of time for John and admire what he has achieved at the club. But I think it was wrong to give him a new contract. I think we’ve done it through sentiment and loyalty but you’ve got to look at performance.

“For the last two years we’ve been conceding goals and John in the centre of defence has been a problem.

“You’re always going to fight age. I think he will be one of the oldest players next season in the Premier League.

“John’s going to spend a lot of time on the bench and he won’t be happy with that. I know that he wants to end up on the coaching staff at Chelsea, same as myself after my playing career, but first he needs to go away and learn his trade before coming back.”

John Terry made 150 defensive actions in the Premier League this season.

Terry is regarded as one of the best players in Chelsea’s history, but the experienced defender showed some signs of decline this campaign, with his lack of pace being brutally exposed on some occasions.

It remains to be seen whether Terry will continue to hold down a regular place in the starting line-up under new manager Antonio Conte, but, regardless, the defender will still be a valuable presence in the dressing room.

 

Despite his advancing years, Terry remains a fine distributor of the ball, as demonstrated by the fact that he had an average pass accuracy of 90% in the Premier League this season.

Conte is currently in charge of Italy at Euro 2016, but once the tournament is over the manager will switch his focus to Chelsea, with the Blues’ squad in need of reinforcements ahead of next season.

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