Is this the beginning of the end for John Terry?

Is this the beginning of the end for John Terry?

Title holders, Chelsea, On Sunday Night were humbled by a determined and hungry Manchester City, losing 3-0 to the ex-champions, giving them a five point gap with only two games played. City laid down their presence in this Premier League title race and showed the Champions that they are stronger than last season. Mourinho is known to have a strong record in the big games against rivals and for clever tactics - but at half time Captain, John Terry, was substituted for the first time ever by Jose Mourinho, Who said it was purely for tactical reasons ” Zouma is a different player to John Terry” Sergio Aguero scored their first after five previous attempts on goal - with Begovic pulling off some fine saves.

The Manchester club are now top of the table with Chelsea in sixteenth place. Chelsea took a long time to get into the game, with City starting quick as Aguero already had one-on-one against Chelsea Goalkeeper, Asmir Begovic, towards the 30th second and from that point on, problems went from bad to worse. In the past two games, Chelsea have conceded 38 shots on goal. 

Captain, John Terry was substituted off at half time for Frenchman, Kurt Zouma, 21, Mourinho said "I can tell you he was not dancing in the dressing room and I can also tell you he was not having a bad reaction." John Terry has been Mr. Chelsea for the past fifteen years but could this be the beginning of the end? In 2013, when Mourinho managed Chelsea for his second spell, the blues lost their 10^th game of the season, with a 2-0 loss at St James’ Park. Mourinho subsequently dropped, arguably, the best left back in the Premier League, Ashley Cole, and replaced him with Spanish right back, Cesar Azpiliqueta who Chelsea fans, at that time, were not too pleased about. But Mourinho’s decision turned out to be successful one with Azpiliqueta now one of Chelsea’s best defenders. The situation with Terry being substituted is very similar to Ashley Cole being dropped after the Newcastle loss, Cole didn’t have the worst of games but neither did Terry. Mourinho’s next line up will be crucial to see where Terry’s future lies, if not picked against West Brom this Sunday the ex-England Captain’s future could end the same way former team mate, Ashley Cole’s did.

 There has been talk that Mourinho substituted Terry to show Roman Abramovich that he needs reinforcements; but personally I don’t believe that he would risk losing a match by taking off his Captain, even if it was tactical. There were other players that could have been replaced rather than Terry. With Fabregas in holding midfield, who didn’t know whether he was attacking or defending, was stuck between two minds and in the end didn’t do much of either, he could have easily put Zouma in midfield instead, Ivanovic at right back was appalling with him continuously losing the ball in important areas and Gary Cahill wasn’t quite as bad but Terry certainly looked better in the first half. 

Everton have received bids from Chelsea for 21 year old defender, John Stones, but manager Roberto Martinez has said that “he is not for sale and that is the end of that” and with the substitution of John Terry on Sunday would only have made Stones’ price go up a further couple of million. The only positive that Chelsea can take from Sunday night's game is that the transfer window is still up and have time to buy.