London - Guus Hiddink says John Terry could still earn a new contract at Chelsea, but warned that the club captain is not irreplaceable.
Terry revealed on Sunday that he would leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season after the club said they would not offer him a new deal.
The news took Chelsea by surprise and they will hold further talks with Terry, whose contract expires in June.
Interim manager Hiddink (below) held talks with the 35-year-old defender this week and said: ‘I can say that no one is irreplaceable.
‘We’ve spoken about it. With every player, or manager, the time comes when you have to say goodbye to people. You have to decide when that happens. It’s difficult.
‘If you are a manager, it happens a lot. But let’s see what takes place in the short term. There are new leaders coming up in the group.
‘I can help him prepare. At a lower level, I had the same experience because I loved the game so much. Sometimes you don’t see it yourself.
‘It’s very difficult because these are legends, big players, and that hurts for a player.
‘Whatever your job is afterwards, if you were so passionate about playing football, whatever you do afterwards is a substitute for what you did and what you love.
‘But John is doing perfectly in his performances, so I’m not suggesting anything, but we spoke about things. He can carry on, of course. He’s fit. His ambition is enough to carry on.’
On the prospect of Terry remaining at Chelsea next season, Hiddink - whose side are away to Watford in the Barclays Premier League tonight - added: ‘It was said by John that he’s leaving and he’s entitled to make up his mind, that’s true, given his contract expires at the end of the season.
‘But, on the other hand, the club still want to have the dialogue and to have an open door. It was a bit surprising he said anything, but he’s entitled to do so.
‘John’s statistics, not just that but also the view we have of him - I have of him - show he is very fit.
‘He’s not what you normally see in a 35-year-old player, when you feel they are getting a bit slower.
‘There is none of that for John. He is fit and performing as well as he has been while I’ve been here.’
Daily Mail