John Terry will stay Blue and true, assures Mourinho

West Ham v Chelsea

Jose Mourinho says captain John Terry will receive a contract extension at Chelsea and believes the defender has the desire to ensure next season will not be his last at Stamford Bridge.

The 34-year-old’s current deal expires at the end of the 2014-15 campaign, but Mourinho believes his form means he will be staying at Stamford Bridge.

“What I can guarantee is he will be a Chelsea player next season. I can guarantee that,” Mourinho said.

“No doubts he’s going to get his contract. I know what my board tells me. I also know what the player tells me.”

Chelsea policy dictates that players over the age of 30 are offered only 12-month deals, a challenge Terry has taken in his stride, according to Mourinho.

“I don’t know (how long he can play on for). At this age it’s very difficult to predict,” Mourinho said.

“If the fire is there, this contract will not be the last contract he signs.”

Mourinho also believes he has time to find Terry’s successor in the centre of the Blues defence — Kurt Zouma could prove to be that man — after helping to revive a career which appeared to be on the downturn under the Portuguese’s predecessor Rafael Benitez.

“This is a process we can take our time, because John is proving again this season that he’s a player for years,” Mourinho added.

“When I came back (in June 2013) he was coming from a difficult period. Last season he was very good, this season I think even better.”

Terry lifted the Capital One Cup on Sunday following a 2-0 win against Tottenham at Wembley. He now has 13 major trophies for the Blues.

It was Mourinho’s first trophy of his second spell.

Petr Cech played in goal at Wembley, despite being displaced as first choice by Thibaut Courtois this term.

Mourinho will not stand in Cech’s way should he wish to leave at the end of the season, but the Czech Republic goalkeeper’s status means a big fee will be required to prise him from Stamford Bridge as his contract does not expire until the end of next season.

“He will make his decision,” Mourinho said.

“I would like him very much to stay (but) I don’t waste my time trying to persuade him, because I know nobody can persuade him.

“If he tells me he wants to leave, I will tell him my opinion and my opinion is one of the three best goalkeepers in the world. Huge money.”

Cech will be a substitute at West Ham tonight, with Courtois back in the side after missing out at Wembley.

Meanwhile West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has warned his defenders against winding up Diego Costa tonight, insisting the Chelsea striker only plays better when he is angry.

Costa has scored 17 goals during an impressive debut campaign at Stamford Bridge but the 26-year-old has also courted controversy with his bullish character and combative style of play.

The Spain forward was handed a three-match ban in January for stamping on Liverpool’s Emre Can, and with eight yellow cards is only two cautions away from another suspension.

“We’re not to get involved with him, our central defenders are not to get involved with how he might upset them,” Allardyce said.

“People say he’s an old-fashioned centre forward because he seems to get motivated by the physical and niggly aspect of it so we’re not to get involved in that.

“I don’t think it winds him up — it winds him up to make him better which is a silly thing to do.”