Terry as good as a decade ago – Mourinho

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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says inspirational captain John Terry is matching the high standards he set more than a decade ago.

The 34-year-old centre-half was a key figure in helping the club win back-to-back Premier League titles during Mourinho’s first spell in charge from 2004.

And the 2014 version is proving every bit as valuable for the Portuguese, starting every Premier League game for the leaders and scoring his second goal in as many matches to set the Blues on their way to a stylish 2-0 Boxing Day win over London rivals West Ham.

Mourinho, who made Terry his skipper 10 years ago, said: “He is full of confidence. I see my John of 2004/05/06. I don’t see any difference.

“I only see a difference when I see his twins (aged eight) because they were born in that period. But in him there is no difference he is playing so good.”

There was controversy during the victory against the Hammers when Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic went down in the box, angering visiting striker Andy Carroll.

But Mourinho said: “I think it was a penalty. On television it looks a penalty.

“The only guy that dived was (West Ham’s Enner) Valencia. It was not in the box, it was outside the box. Nobody reacted negatively to that.”

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