After over 700 appearances for Chelsea, it was announced this week that captain John Terry would be leaving the club at the end of this season, bringing his 22-year association with the club to an end.

The centre-half joined the Blues as a 14-year old and went onto make his debut for the club in 1998, before going onto captain his beloved side on nearly 600 occasions.

Since announcing a new one-year deal last summer, the skipper has seen his time on the pitch dwindle significantly this season as Antonio Conte’s side have marched towards the Premier League title.

The title race looked done and dusted a few weeks ago, however, after a spell of sensational form from closest competitors and London rivals, Tottenham, as well as losses against Crystal Palace and most recently Manchester United, it is well and truly back on, with the gap at the top down to just four points.

The Blues are still in firm control of their fate, and could well still go on to pick up a league and cup double in Conte’s maiden season at the club. Four points may seem a small gap, however, at this level and considering Chelsea’s run in against Spurs, should the Blues get back to winning ways when they face Southampton next Tuesday, after their FA Cup semi-final against Mauricio Pochettino’s side, the gap will seem ever larger for the chasing pack.

With that in mind, the news of Terry’s imminent departure could well be the final boost Conte’s side need to seal the deal and lift the Premier League for the second time in three years.

After well and truly bottling their title defence last season, finishing tenth, the whole club will be keen to give Terry the best send of possible, after years of unwavering service to the west London outfit.

There may well be a sense of ‘do it for your captain,’ when it comes down to the final run of games of the season as the Blues look to clinch the title after the disappointment of losing their ten point lead.

Terry will still be well amongst the squad, offering advice from his successes at the club, but the importance of doing what they can to repay the 36-year-old for what he has done at Stamford Bridge over the years cannot be lost on the squad.