Gary Neville: Chelsea must keep Terry to mentor Stones if he joins from Everton

John Terry watched on from the bench after being substituted at half time

GARY NEVILLE believes Chelsea must keep hold of John Terry despite his "embarrassing" substitution at half time against Manchester City last weekend.

 

Terry was taken off by Jose Mourinho for Kurt Zouma due to tactical reason after a difficult half up against Sergio Aguero, who had opened the scoring at the Etihad.

The 34-year-old was then forced to watch on as Chelsea conceded two more goals in the second half to lose the match 3-0.

 

Questions were asked about Terry's future at the club following the match but Neville insists his former England team-mate has to accept a reduced role especially if Chelsea sign John Stones.

He told the Telegraph: "Jose Mourinho’s challenge will be to ‘transition’ Terry out of the team over the next few seasons and the player himself will have to accept a reduced role: willingly, rather than as an insult.

 

"Terry and their transfer target, John Stones, could play 25 or 35 games each for Chelsea in the transition phase. All parties would benefit.

"If Chelsea were to have Terry, Gary Cahill, Stones and Kurt Zouma – what a quartet of centre-backs that would be."