untouchable, says Mourinho

John Terry is to receive no special treatment and is no longer considered an untouchable, according to manager Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho has laid down the law with Terry and he, like everyone else in the Chelsea squad, is going to have to fight for his place.


Mourinho told reporters: “He’s not safe and he knows he’s not safe.

“The only thing he knows is safe is our friendship, our relationship.



“We spoke about it and he understands perfectly that friends are friends but business is ‘apart’.

“This is business so, yes, he has to prove himself.

“I cannot make him protected or favourite in front of someone else — and he knows that because he knows my nature.”

Terry, who captained Chelsea to two Premier League titles under Mourinho back in 2004/05 & 2005/06, struggled to nail down a first-team spot last season under Benitez with his injury troubles and the Spaniards squad rotation system.

There have been suggestions that his defensive style is outdated with team-mate David Luiz modelling the future of defensive duties, playing the ball out from deep and pushing forward when necessary.

Question marks have also arisen about Terry's fitness, with Benitez claiming, last season, he would only improve his fitness with game-time but was too unfit to play.

With the captains contract expiring at the end of this season, he could well be on his way out if he doesn't return to the form that made him the world's best centre-back under Mourinho first time around. We'll have to wait and see.