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Guus Hiddink’s Comments Regarding John Terry Raise More Issues

By Ajitesh Rasgotra

MILTON KEYNES, ENGLAND - JANUARY 31: John Terry of Chelsea celebrates victory after the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Milton Keynes Dons and Chelsea at Stadium mk on January 31, 2016 in Milton Keynes, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
MILTON KEYNES, ENGLAND - JANUARY 31: John Terry of Chelsea celebrates victory after the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Milton Keynes Dons and Chelsea at Stadium mk on January 31, 2016 in Milton Keynes, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /
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Chelsea FC’s interim boss Guus Hiddink was full of praise when discussing club captain John Terry, making the decision not to renew his contract more baffling.

In the wake of Chelsea’s 5-1 rout of MK Dons in the FA Cup on Sunday, club captain and Blues legend John Terry revealed that the club had not offered him a contract extension. As a result, he will be leaving Stamford Bridge in the summer to finish off his career elsewhere.

The announcement inevitably evoked a strong reaction from the Chelsea fanbase. Some were getting emotional over the prospect of him moving on while many were understandably infuriated by the board’s decision. Guus Hiddink, meanwhile, addressed the issue ahead of the club’s Premier League fixture against Watford and was gushing in his praise of the defender.

"John is doing perfectly in his performances, he can carry on [playing], of course. He is fit, his ambition is enough to carry on…The door is not shut, dialogue is always possible. But John’s statistics, and not just that but also the view I have on him [show] that he is very fit."

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Hiddink’s excessively flattering comments do little but further Terry’s case for Chelsea’s customary one-year veteran extension. The man described does not sound like the type of person who should be released under any circumstance, yet the Blues board are willing to move him on.

Terry’s revelation came as a surprise to everyone, including his fellow playing and coaching staff. Having played for Chelsea for the entirety of his senior career, it was largely assumed that the only factor that would prevent him from signing an extension would be retirement.

According to many, the West Londoners have lacked leaders and experience this season. The summer saw Petr Cech and Didier Drogba depart, while Frank Lampard left not long before that. Terry was the only person left who truly embodied the spirit of the Chelsea supporters.

Despite this, the club have quite bizarrely taken the decision to cut the most influential player in the dressing room.

However, there is some context to the announcement. Terry stated that he always finds out about his contract situation in January and that at this point in time the club are not resigning him. They apparently said that this could change when next season’s manager is confirmed (a sentiment reinforced by Hiddink’s claim that the door is open), but the Englishman did not sound like man who was holding out much hope.

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This is an unwanted development in a disastrous Chelsea campaign that has done little but alienate parts of the fanbase. It must be stated that this is not due to the poor results, but more the fashion in which the club have conducted their off-field business.

Just when matters were starting to look upwards, too.

All quotes taken from the Independent.

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