Former Chelsea captain John Terry thinks the club will stick with manager Antonio Conte, despite the speculation around his future.
Even during the Italian’s maiden season, in which the Blues won the Premier League and reached the FA Cup Final, there were rumours about his unhappiness at Stamford Bridge.
However, Terry feels the ‘first class’ former Juventus manager will remain in west London for the long-term.
"I think they see him as a long-term manager and, having worked with him, I have to say the way he dealt with me and the way he deals with players and the tactical side of things he brings to the game is first class," he said on Sky Sports. "I do think they will stick with him long term."
Conte, who is under contract until 2019, signed an improved deal last summer, although it was not an extension to the three-year agreement he penned he 2016.
Chelsea lie in third place in the table, 14 points behind runaway leaders Manchester City and three behind Manchester United.
But Terry, who left the club after 19-years at the end of last season – joining Aston Villa, believes Chelsea still have the second best squad in the division.
"They've got some great individual players, great going forward, great defensively, a great midfield and I think, bar City that are setting the tone and the tempo of the Premier League, the best squad of players in the Premier League," he said.
John Terry's career in pictures
Terry also gave his backing to one of his former coaches at Chelsea, Paul Clement, whose Swansea side are fighting against relegation.
The former England captain revealed he held talks with Clement over the summer and was tempted by a move to the Swans, despite his insistence he could never play for one of Chelsea's Premier League rivals.
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"(Clement is a) great man manager, someone I spoke to personally over the summer, just a great manger and a really good guy as well," said Terry.
"He needs a bit of time, he needs the transfer window to get a few more players in, the right man for the job for sure.”