As Gary Cahill perfectly stepped into John Terry’s shoes?

Chelsea’s new captain and leader, Gary Cahill, claimed it is impossible to fill John Terry’s football boots, but he’s doing a very good job of it.

John Terry, 36-year-old, will leave Stamford Bridge this summer ending more than two decades of association with the Blues.

While Terry has been relegated to the bench this season, Cahill has stepped in as skipper and, slotting into the left side of a defensive three. He has ably lead the team to the verge of the Premier League title.

But can he become the new 'Mr Chelsea' when Terry leaves this summer? Here is what he said:

‘I would never try to fill John Terry's boots.’

‘You can never fill that position. When I took over as captain this season, either through him not being picked or not being available, it was a privilege to do that.’

Former team-mates have spoken about Terry’s influence off the field as much as on it. That role could well fall to Cahill now, although while he has learned so much from his counterpart, he is also keen to forge his own path.

‘He is right at the top and whoever comes in after him is never going to achieve what he has done at the club,’ Cahill said. ‘It is one of those situations where you have to separate yourself from it. The way that I prepare, the way that I play, the way that I like to speak to the lads or manage situations is the way that I do things.

‘Nothing has changed in my game since I had that armband, apart from the fact I am now 31 and I have learned a lot from someone like him.

'I will continue to learn from him while he is at the club. I have been my own man. I feel like I can be me but I have obviously learned from the best.

'I have always tried in my career to look at what people do and soak it in myself. I just watch and learn from all kinds of people and he is, obviously, one of them.’

Cahill is described as a ‘no-nonsense central defender’ in his profile on Chelsea’s website and never has that cliche been more apt for a player.

‘For me, Gary, he can play also as a centre forward,’ Conte said afterwards, partly in jest.

‘He has a good quality, he is acrobatic, he is very good during corners and set-pieces.’

But Chelsea’s manager was on to something: Cahill has scored twice in their last two games, against Southampton and Everton, at a time when second-place Tottenham closed the gap to four points and goals could have become harder to find due to the pressure.

His tally stands at nine goals for club and country this season, the same amount as £89million-man Paul Pogba. Much like Terry, Cahill is becoming priceless for Chelsea.