Terry plays a waiting game

CHELSEA captain John Terry must wait to learn if he will start or be a substitute in his final Stamford Bridge appearance.

The 36-year-old defender, who will leave Chelsea this summer after 22 years, made his first Premier League start since September in his 716th Blues appearance in last Monday’s win over Watford.

But head coach Antonio Conte, who has no injury concerns, may revert to his first-choice line-up when they host Sunderland today, in order to prepare for the FA Cup Final with Arsenal next Saturday.

Meanwhile, Conte has expressed gratitude that his Chelsea players embraced his methods in their Premier League title success. The Italian was concerned in September when Chelsea, despite winning their first three games, suffered backto-back losses to Liverpool and Arsenal.

With the Blues 3-0 down at half-time, Conte reverted to a 3-4-3 system during the second half at the Emirates Stadium and the Blues never looked back.

A 13-match winning run followed and, despite some minor setbacks, Chelsea reclaimed the title relinquished to Leicester last season.

The Blues finished 10th last term, but Conte has galvanised the squad, alongside making a couple of key additions. And he praised his players for their application. He said: “To change our system was very important.

“We found the right suit for these players. Then we continued to work very hard. But ‘very hard’ is easy to say.

“Everyone can say they work hard. But the reality is very different. We did this. We worked very hard every single day.

“I found my players with a great will and desire to improve.

“This was the secret, this link. I want to say thanks to my players because every single manager can have a good idea of football.

“If they don’t go into the idea with the right will or desire, it’s very difficult for any coach to have a good season.”