Football
Liam Twomey, Chelsea correspondent 8y

Antonio Conte could extend John Terry's career at Chelsea - Ray Wilkins

John Terry is still Chelsea's best defender and incoming first-team head coach Antonio Conte could extend the 35-year-old's top-level career in the same way that he managed with Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo at Juventus, according to Blues legend Ray Wilkins.

Earlier this week Chelsea confirmed that Terry had accepted a late offer of a one-year contract extension, ending months of speculation that their captain was set to leave Stamford Bridge for China or the Middle East this summer, having been declined a new deal in January.

The news that Terry will continue his 18-year professional career at Chelsea has been met with joy and relief from many supporters, and Wilkins -- who worked with the Blues captain during his stint as assistant manager between 2008 and 2010 -- has no doubt that Conte will find his presence useful.

"The only thing I can say about Conte is that he had Pirlo at Juventus well into his mid-30s," Wilkins toldĀ talkSPORT. "Buffon is 38. [Conte] doesn't care how old they are. If they can play, he'll stick them in there, so I'm sure he'll want to use John's experience. That's all you want as a player.

"I've got a season ticket at Chelsea and I go to most of the games. He's the best defender they've got, so it would have been folly to allow him to leave."

Chelsea supporters protested against their club's treatment of Terry by chanting in support of their captain and holding up banners during last week's 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield, shortly before the club took the unusual step of announcing that they had offered Terry a new one-year deal.

Wilkins believes that this sudden change in Chelsea's position shows that owner Roman Abramovich is receptive to the concerns of supporters, and says that the Russian will do all he can to help Conte succeed next season.

"I think he does [listen to Chelsea supporters] and he likes the relationship that he has with them," Wilkins said of Abramovich. "He's served them up some fantastic football teams over the years and really put his hand in his pocket.

"He sacked me but I've still got the utmost admiration for what he's done for the club. He's turned it from an ordinary club into one that's vying for [trophies].

"He's a football nut. He enjoys his football very much and if he can be [at Stamford Bridge], he's normally there. He doesn't mess, either -- he doesn't come in and try to pick teams.

"I think he'll want to [spend] and give Conte the best chance he possibly can. Chelsea are now in a period of their history where they need to go again, because it's not often that they're not winning."

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