Hiddink says Terry 'huge' but replaceable
LONDON — Guus Hiddink insists no one is irreplaceable as John Terry prepares to leave Chelsea when his contract expires this summer, but admits the 35-year-old has a “huge impact” on and off the pitch.
Terry told reporters after Sunday’s 5-1 victory over MK Dons in the FA Cup fourth round that he expects to depart Stamford Bridge at the end of the season after being notified last month that Chelsea had declined to offer him an extension on his current deal.
Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Hiddink reiterated Chelsea’s stance that “channels of dialogue” will remain open with Terry’s camp over his future, but the Dutchman believes that even if the Blues captain does leave, new leaders are emerging to succeed him at Stamford Bridge.
“I can say theoretically that no one is irreplaceable, not even a manager,” Hiddink said. “But [Terry] is of huge impact, and has been and will be in the upcoming games.
“You mentioned [Didier] Drogba [who postponed his return to Chelsea to continue at Montreal Impact for another year] and it’s true that [these leaders] are of huge impact on the pitch. But on top of that [Terry] has a very good presence in the group and within the dressing room.
“We’ll see what will happen in the future but if [he does leave], what we like is that new leaders are coming up.”
One of the biggest positives of Chelsea’s victory on Sunday was the return to the starting XI of reigning PFA Player of the Year Eden Hazard, who scored a penalty on his comeback from a groin injury to register his first goal in 29 club appearances this season.
Asked whether ending his goal drought would boost Hazard, Hiddink replied: “That’s why we started him and played him for an hour. He came back from a long-time injury, so he still has to step up to a higher physical level which is done in games but also in training. That’s what he needs to perform for now in the coming weeks and in the summer.
“I don’t know if [the goal drought] was a big issue. Of course you would prefer to make a goal from an attack which might be the next step, but I think he’s not so worried about that. The key for us is he’s coming into the physical level where he can play and do a lot of actions.”
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