Tuesday 22 September 2015 14:40, UK
John Terry sat out Chelsea’s 2-0 win against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge despite being fully fit and saw his replacement Kurt Zouma score the opening goal. Is it a sign of things to come? Adam Bate examines the situation now facing the Blues skipper…
"John Terry doesn't need me to speak with him because he knows what I feel and what I think," began Jose Mourinho. "He knows the relationship. He knows that he is my man. He knows if I have to choose one out of 25 to be my man he is the first."
The speech continued. "He knows that I care about him as a person and as a player. He knows that nothing is at risk. He knows that my decision has only one intention and that is to help my team win the match." John Terry knows. Nothing to see here.
He knows that he is my man. He knows if I have choose one out of 25 to be my man he is the first.
But, of course, the decision to drop the Chelsea captain for their vital London derby against Arsenal on Saturday was significant. Having been substituted for the first time by Mourinho in a Premier League game last month, this was now his first time left on the bench.
Fitness was not the issue - Terry is in "great condition" - nor has his form been singled out for criticism. But that only highlights the fact that this was a purely tactical decision. For a must-win game against a rival, Terry did not make Mourinho's first 11 let alone the first one.
The explanation for the selection was sound and more than vindicated by the outcome. The presence of Theo Walcott in a central position had made Mourinho's mind up. "I thought that Arsenal is coming playing a defensive game with a very fast striker that gets behind people.
"If we don't need to win the game so much, probably we would keep our block low and be more compact. But because we needed to win the game desperately, we needed the victory, we couldn't wait. We had to bring our defensive line up [the pitch]."
It worked. Walcott threatened to get in behind early on but soon found himself getting caught offside and Kurt Zouma's physical capabilities were more than a match for him. Late in the first half, the pacey Frenchman even had time to slip and still make a crucial tackle.
It wasn't perfect and Zouma and Gary Cahill were almost caught out by Alexis Sanchez in the second half. That would have put a different complexion on things. But Mourinho will feel his selection paid off and that raises the thorny question of what Chelsea will do in future.
After all, Walcott is not the only speedy striker in the Premier League and Arsenal aren't the only team who'll adopt a defensive approach against the champions. Chelsea visit West Ham next month and the counter-attack is expected to be a factor.
The following month it's Jamie Vardy's Leicester and in December it's Mame Biram Diouf's Stoke - both have been clocked as quicker than Walcott this season. Are these not games which title-chasing Chelsea "need to win" and so might be better served by a higher line?
"If you want to paint a dark picture, I ask you please don't do it because it is not the reality," said Mourinho at the weekend. But this is a new reality for Terry. Circumstances have changed and it seems that when it matters most, his place can no longer be guaranteed.
The 34-year-old signed a new contract in March but that deal expires in the summer and we are heading towards the stage of the season that saw Steven Gerrard opt to leave Liverpool after being left out of big games. Much will hinge on Terry's reaction to the disappointment.
The early signs are encouraging. "John knows the way I think," added Mourinho. "He's a fantastic captain and today he was even better. Every player respects him but the way he reacted in the last few days to his situation, he has even more respect from his players."
Vice-captain Branislav Ivanovic confirmed that view post-match when he said "we all know John Terry is the true captain". Maintaining that leadership role, while sitting out key games is a nifty trick. But if Terry and Mourinho pull it off, Chelsea could be stronger for it.
