Veteran John Terry will be Chelsea's captain this season, manager Antonio Conte has confirmed.
The Englishman was expected to leave the club before signing a new one-year contract in May.
Conte was full of praise for the 35-year-old as he described him as a player with "great personality and charisma".
"John Terry signed a contract as a player, not as a different role," Conte told reporters.
"He is captain of this team, and a great player with a great personality and charisma. I like to speak with him because he knows the club and the right spirit to play in this club.
"For me he is an important player like the others. All the players know that I will see them in training to choose my starting 11. When a player deserves to [play], he will play.
"He is John Terry, he is the captain of Chelsea and, when he plays or when he doesn't play, he is always the captain.
"All the decisions we take together as a club. I am very pleased that John signed a new deal. I spoke with him different times and for me it was the most important thing that John - he was very happy."
