Arsenal FC manager Arsène Wenger spoke about John Terry’s role on and off the pitch for Chelsea FC, insisting that the legendary Blues defender will remain in football in the future — potentially in a coaching capacity.
Following Chelsea FC’s FA Cup fourth round thrashing of Championship side MK Dons, captain John Terry sent shockwaves around the football world with the announcement that he expected to leave his boyhood club at the end of the season. Plenty of opinions about Terry as well as Chelsea’s decision to let him go have since been sought from the game’s leading figures, and Arsenal FC boss Arsène Wenger was one of them.
The Frenchman heaped praise on the Chelsea centre-back, and although he ruled out an attempt to bring Terry to the Emirates, the 66-year-old believes he is still a great player. Wenger also expects the four-time Premier League winner to have a future in coaching because of his role as a leader and mentor on the pitch.
The Gunners’ boss is quoted by the Guardian as saying: “He was not only a great player, he certainly still is, but he was also a great coach on the pitch. I saw him here once at London Colney playing with the Under-21s and the way he coached the team as a player was absolutely marvellous. He was a real leader and he had a great career as well, let’s not forget that.
“That’s never a coincidence. The guys who last such a long time have something special. He was the symbol of cohesion inside Chelsea’s club because him, [Frank] Lampard, [Didier] Drogba and [Petr] Cech were the players who carried the club’s values for long periods. When you lose players like that you’re always in danger. I see a coaching career in his future, certainly. He will remain in football, I’m sure.”
Arsène Wenger: John Terry ‘was a great coach on the pitch’ https://t.co/XcmDPqvbzo (Photo: Rex) pic.twitter.com/05zjv9nOz2
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) February 1, 2016
Chelsea FC need Terry now more than ever
Even though John Terry’s best days may be behind him, the Blues need their captain now more than ever. The season’s failings have served to reinforce the notion that there is a dearth of leaders in the squad, and as one of the best captains the Premier League has ever seen, Terry’s influence cannot be underestimated.
Besides, the Englishman has already had a significant positive impact on Kurt Zouma’s improvement, and with the number of young centre-backs on Chelsea FC’s books — including signings that may be made in the future — the role of a mentor like Terry could be absolutely pivotal.
