Ex-Chelsea attacker Juan Mata is the latest person to join the John Terry and Virgil van Dijk debate.
Terry and Van Dijk are two of the greatest central defenders in Premier League history, and many are now debating who is better out of the two.
Despite that, Terry was recently omitted from WhoScored’s list of highest-rated Premier League centre-backs ever.
Virgil van Dijk ranks his top 5 Premier League centre-backs 🥇
Do you agree?
Virgil van Dijk ranks John Terry 4th in his Premier League centre-back rankings
Photo by Oliver Hardt – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
However, there is no doubt that Mata would include his former captain on any list he made.
Juan Mata of the Victory celebrates
Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
Former Chelsea star Juan Mata talks up John Terry’s personality and leadership in Virgil van Dijk debate
Mata played alongside Terry at Chelsea and remembers the former defender’s personality on the pitch, leadership qualities and threat from set pieces.
For the attacking midfielder, those things make Terry the superior footballer.
As Mata weighed in on the debate on talkSPORT, he said: “John. For me, John, and of course Virgil is fantastic and what he’s done for Liverpool I respect that. But the personality, the character, what he meant on the pitch, his leadership and of course Virgil also.
“But the way… you know when I was taking corners and free kicks, I knew that if we had John Terry, if we had Didier Drogba, if we had [Gary] Cahill, if we had [Branislav] Ivanovic in the box, I just had to put the ball there and it will probably be a chance. So, yeah, for me, John is one of the best ever.”
Chelsea fans, YOU decide the debate 🫵
If John Terry is better than Virgil van Dijk, why? And don't just say trophies! 😅
John Terry and Van Dijk
Credit: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC/Michael Regan For The Premier League via Getty Images
Terry has taken up coaching since retiring and had hoped to be part of Calum McFarlane’s backroom staff when he took temporary charge of Chelsea following Enzo Maresca’s departure. However, Terry was overlooked and left feeling frustrated.
Chelsea's English defender John Terry (front) gestures next to teammate Spanish midfielder Juan Mata
Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images
How many games Juan Mata and John Terry played together
Mata and Terry enjoyed a lot of success together, winning the Champions League, FA Cup and Europa League.
In total, they shared the pitch 75 times and had eight joint-goal participations, as per Transfermarkt.
Mata was very good at scoring goals and creating them, and in Cole Palmer, Liam Rosenior has a player who is similar and even more productive than the Spaniard.
However, what Rosenior does not have is a centre-half like Terry. A true leader who is also exceptional at defending. Had he had one, Chelsea would probably not have dropped points to Burnley and Leeds United, or at least not in the manner in which they did.
After leading in both games, the Blues collapsed following some very questionable defending. It is going to be virtually impossible, but hopefully they can sign a centre-back like Terry in the summer or the near future.
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