The Blues captain went public on Sunday with his belief that his career at Stamford Bridge is being brought to an end but the interim manager is a little more hopeful
Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink believes that John Terry could yet stay beyond the summer, despite the club captain's announcement that his exit has been sealed.
Terry declared in the aftermath of Sunday's 5-1 win against MK Dons that he would end his career-long association with the Blues at the end of this.
The former England skipper said that Chelsea's refusal to offer him a contract extension forced his hand to look elsewhere, although a statement from the reigning Premier League champions subsequently said that they were open to maintaining a dialogue .
Speaking ahead of his team's Premier League trip to Watford, Hiddink conceded that Terry's decision caught him by surprise.
The short-term nature of the veteran Dutchman's appointment as successor to Jose Mourinho provides an extra layer of uncertainty to the Terry situation but Hiddink is hopeful a resolution can be found.
"I also had some conversations with [Terry] in the past days about all kinds of things in football," he explained. "A lot was said by John and he is entitled, after the contract is ending at the end of the season, to make up his mind.
"On the other hand, there is also the club's side. I think they still want to have the dialogue to have an open door.
"It was a bit surprising but he is entitled to make the decision, which is entirely up to him.
"There is no specific decision made yet. You have to see the progress that is made in the transition of the management as well. We have to see it from his side and the club's side. The door is not shut. Dialogue is always possible."
Hiddink certainly has no doubts over Terry's capacity to perform at the highest level, having selected the 35-year-old from the start in every Premier League match since his return to the London club.
"John's statistics and the view I have on him – he's very fit – and he is not what you normally see in a 35- or 36-year-old player," he added. "You usually feel that you are getting a little bit slower and you cannot accept it, but none of that for John.
"He is fit and performing as he is. He will [continue] to do this regardless of the situation he is in and be professional."
- Goal