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Chelsea round-up: Terry rejected offer; Everton win reaction; leading chase for Monaco’s Tiemoue Bakayoko
The claim that captain John Terry rejected an offer to stay at Chelsea for a 20th season as he felt that he is still able to compete at first team level in the Premier League, something that the Blues could not guarantee with any offer. The 36-year-old has not started a Premier League game since September.
The central defender has been a key player for the club for nearly two decades and decided to stay after initially announcing that he would leave the club at the end of last season. Now, he does seem set to leave the club for good, though his destination is still not clear for next season.
Terry was not involved this weekend as Chelsea took another step towards the title with a victory over Everton at Goodison Park. A hard fought win, it took a brilliant strike from Pedro to turn the game in Chelsea’s favour. Manager Antonio Conte told the :
“I must be pleased with the performance. It wasn’t easy to play against a really strong team, and a really good manager. Everton prepared the game very well with good tactical organisation. My players showed me great patience to wait for the right moment to lead, and then to score the second and third goals.
“For us it was very important to keep a clean sheet after 12 games. This is very important for our confidence for the final part of the season… We have to continue in this way, to go step by step and try in every game to take three points.”
The result leaves Chelsea four points clear of Tottenham, who beat Arsenal, but with four games to play and with West Brom the only top half side left to challenge Chelsea when the two sides meet next Friday night.
Preparations for next season are already underway and the claim that Chelsea are leading the race for Monaco’s star midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko. The France international, who earned his first cap this season against Spain in a friendly, is wanted by a number of Europe’s biggest clubs including Manchester United, Manchester City, Juventus and Bayern Munich.
Antonio Conte reportedly wants the 22-year-old to form part of a three man midfield alongside N’Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic as Chelsea return to the Champions League after a year away from the competition.
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