LONDON: At 34, John Terry remains Chelsea's hardiest perennial. Those days when he was susceptible to back problems seem to have long expired, as his anchoring presence underpins the club's season of serene dominance. To watch his metronomic efficiency at the heart of Jose Mourinho's back four is to pinch yourself that it is not 2005 all over again. No wonder the manager believes that Terry, revived after all his years of tumult and controversy, has rediscovered a feeling of happiness through his dramatically improved health.
"The way John is taking care of himself is very important," Mourinho said of his captain, poised to start his 21st game of this season against Hull City today (Saturday). "Our training methods help. But the most important part of everything is to be happy. I once read about a famous neurologist who said: 'We docs always say to people to exercise, eat properly, be careful with salt and protein, but we forget to tell people to be happy.' I think John is this. He had a period here of so many doubts and question marks. Is he still the same player? Can he play at this level? Is he fit? Will he play or be in the stands? Suddenly the happiness arrives. Now look at him."
Mourinho explained that restoring Terry's confidence began after Chelsea's Super Cup defeat by Bayern Munich in August 2013, at the start of his second spell at Stamford Bridge.
"Back then, John was not playing," he said. "He was not yet ready for the high level. So, it was a process. But the reality is that he has played so well - not just this season but last season, too."
The Portuguese drew a parallel between the longevity of Terry and that of Javier Zanetti, his Argentine talisman at Inter Milan. "I know players who are old at 22, and guys who are young at 37. Zanetti was already 37 when I was at Inter, but when the other players came in after a day off from training, he would run all the way from his home to burn off more energy."
Whether in Terry's rejuvenation or the remarkable consistency of Chelsea at home, comparisons with Mourinho's title-winning teams in 2005 and 2006 are tantalising. But the manager refused to be drawn. "I don't compare, because the other ones were title winners, and these are title contenders," he said.
A fortnight of ennui in the North East, where a goalless draw at Sunderland was compounded by a fractious defeat by Newcastle, means Chelsea might be fallible after all.
Mourinho practically admitted as much yesterday, claiming that his players would not use Sergio Aguero's absence with injury as an excuse to take the challenge of Manchester City's "magnificent" squad lightly.
With Chelsea's lead over City cut to three points, Mourinho spoke not of his club's title challenge but of the weapons at rival manager Manuel Pellegrini's disposal. "They have a magnificent squad, full of top players, of end products," he said. "These are not young people to develop. He went to Roma to play a Champions League match without two or three important players, and they won. Just because one player is missing, they don't have a problem."
Chelsea are entering a defining phase of their season, with six games in 19 days including a Capital One Cup tie. Mourinho admitted he was likely to rotate his squad. He would not discuss a possible quadruple however. "What crosses my mind is to win the next match," he argued.
Thibaut Courtois's absence with a muscular problem should gift a first Premiership start to goalkeeper Petr Cech this afternoon.
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