Beijing, July 24: Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has named defender Gary Cahill as the successor of John Terry after the Blues captain left the club this season for Aston Villa.

All leagues special site

Last season in Terry's absence Cahill was assigned captaincy by Conte, however, there were rumours circulating that for the new season David Luiz might take the role from the English defender.

But now the Italian boss has put an end to all the speculation regarding the situation and confirmed the 31-year-old Gary Cahill will be handed the new captain's role in the club for the new season.

Conte told he considers Cahill has shown himself to be captain material since his move from Bolton in 2012 but insisted that his place is by no means guaranteed in the starting XI.

"I think that it's right to continue with Cahill, if he plays, it's right he's the captain," Conte is quoted as saying by the 'Evening Standard'.

"Why? Because he stayed in Chelsea for many years and played a lot of games and showed good characteristics to be this."

Conte also heaped praise on the other members of the squad and opined that there are several players who have the leadership skills and can become the next potential skipper in the seasons to come.

"I think also we can have other captains in our team, could be Azpilicueta, Luiz, and also, in the future, it could be Thibaut Courtois, Cesc Fabregas."

"I think every single player must improve in this (being big personalities in the dressing room) and understand [they have] to take more responsibility because we lost big players and we need now to find these new players to create this fundamental for Chelsea."

"It is very important for our future success to create this base."

"But I think right now it's right to give the armband to Gary. He's playing with the club for many years, he has the right characteristic to be a good captain."

OneIndia News