Sarri confirms Cahill as Chelsea captain despite uncertain future

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has confirmed Gary Cahill will continue as the club’s captain for the remainder of this season.

Cahill took the armband from John Terry when the now-Aston Villa assistant manager left Chelsea in 2017, having already captained the side for the majority of the 2016/17 season as Terry was phased out.

So far this season Cesar Azpilicueta has captained Chelsea, playing every minute in the Premier League with Cahill on the bench, leading some to speculate the Spaniard was set to take over as skipper.

But Sarri has now confirmed Cahill will be captain whenever he is on the pitch, having waited to fully examine all of his choices after taking charge in the summer.

“As we have seen in the last matches the captain is Cahill, and if Cahill is not on the pitch, the captain is Azpilicueta, like at Burnley,” he told a pre-match press conference.

“Our captain is Cahill. Cahill was the captain last season. I spoke with his team-mates and everybody told me he was really a very good captain.”

The decision comes despite reports Cahill could leave the club in January due to a lack of playing time under Sarri.

Cahill has played just five of Chelsea’s 16 games across all competitions, but only one of those appearances have come in the Premier League – a 21-minute spell against West Ham in September following Antonio Rudiger’s injury.

And speaking shortly before that appearance, Cahill admitted his future is in doubt.

“I don’t want to jump the gun but as things stand at this time, probably, yes [I might have to leave in January],” he said.

“Whatever my future holds, in terms of the club, and the relationship I have with the club and the fans, it will have been a huge part of my footballing life. I’ve got maximum respect for everybody here.

“I realise that sometimes you have to make tough decisions and football doesn’t wait for people. Sometimes you have to make those decisions to keep going and progressing.”

But, despite preferring David Luiz and Rudiger as the starting centre-backs, Sarri insists Cahill is important to the club.

“It depends on him,” he added.

“He played very often in the last seven or eight matches. I don’t know, it depends on him and the club.

“For me, Cahill is very important on the pitch, but also off the pitch.”

Cahill’s Chelsea career so far

Joining the Blues from Bolton Wanderers in January 2012, Cahill would enjoy a phenomenal first six months at the club, winning the Champions League and FA Cup – including a start in the Champions League final.

Cahill added another European trophy the following year, starting in the Europa League final as he became more of a part of the Chelsea defence alongside John Terry.

The defender would go on to win two Premier League titles, the League Cup and FA Cup in the following seasons continuing alongside Terry and then replacing him as captain while part of Antonio Conte’s back three.

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