Chelsea’s outgoing manager Guus Hiddink has full faith in the club’s ability and hopes to see them back to where they belong next season.
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“We want to end on a positive note”, Terry wrote, with Chelsea poised for a mid-table finish.
The 34-year-old was said to be considering the deal, and he has now disclosed that the role on offer differs from his current position and requires careful consideration.
Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri – the manager who helped establish Terry as a first-team regular during his spell at Stamford Bridge – paid tribute to his former captain after the match.
Here is his speech in full.
Leicester will play Champions League football next season, after Monday’s open-top bus tour and a post-season trip to Thailand. It’s not been us, we’ve not been at our best and we are where we deserve to be in the league.
The supporters sang “John Terry, we want you to stay”.
“I can assure you we’ll be back fighting for this title next year”. Personally, I hope that they come to a solution.
“For a very long time I’ve said I want to be here for the rest of my career”.
Terry: “Chelsea is my life, just like it is yours”.
“If you can’t show respect and dignity to someone [like Terry], arguably the best player Chelsea have ever had, if you can’t do the right thing thing by someone of that status, I think it’s a risky road you’re going down”.
Terry has been a big part in the club’s history, appearing in over 400 matches and being named UEFA’s club defenders of the year in 2005, 2008, 2009.
“For me it’s not good to make speculation [but] it’s good when both parties are starting to talk”, said Hiddink. He’s picked us up. “He is a great man”.
“He is already 20, 21 years at the club; recently I saw an image of him coming in as a youngster”. The former England global has maintained throughout that he wants to stay at Chelsea.
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Fans, who were planning to protest over the club’s treatment of Terry, will be delighted by the development.
