Chelsea
boss Jose Mourinho has told John Terry he will need to maintain his
performances from last season if he is to earn another contract at Stamford
Bridge.
The club captain was handed a new one-year deal at the end of last term
after impressing Mourinho with his displays at the heart of the defence.
The 33-year-old former England skipper had struggled with injuries and
inconsistent form during the previous campaign, but returned to his
commanding best in 2013/14.
But Mourinho has told the Blues legend that there will be no room for
sentiment when it comes to considering further extensions in the future.
"The contract John got was only based on performances, not his status or his
captaincy, just performances," Mourinho told the club's official website.
"We think this way is a very good way of dealing with these kinds of
players. John knows me and he knows the club. He just has to be worried
about performing.
"I don't remember a better season than the one he just had. That's the
point. Last season he had one minor injury. He played basically every match,
and at a very high level.
"When you have a player able to perform during the whole season it’s because
you believe that the next season he can do the same."
Mourinho will have a tough call to make over his No.1 for next season, with
Thibaut Courtois finally being given his chance to shine at Chelsea after
three years on loan with Atletico Madrid.
Courtois and Petr Cech will battle it out for the starting role this season,
with their manager happy to make the decision between the established Czech
veteran and his emerging Belgian rival.
"It was logical that Courtois had to be back," Mourinho said. "It would be
nonsense to have such a fantastic young goalkeeper and not to have him back.
That decision was an easy one.
"If I have to make a decision for Cech to be on the bench, or for Courtois
to be on the bench, it's no problem for me. I will do what I think is the
best."
Mourinho also confirmed that he will have to allow one overseas member of
his squad to depart this summer, but insisted it will not be an established
name.
He added: "We do need one player to leave because we have 18 foreign players
and you can only have 17. We must make that decision between me, the board
and the player involved.
"It will be tough because our squad is stable right now.
"However, it will not be one of our first-team regulars. It will be a fringe
player and may be a loan deal."
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