He is a leader in a side Jose Mourinho thinks is yet to hatch

John Terry will not last forever and will not be able to play as many games last term and with Petr Cech’s place also under threat, Chelsea may well be lacking in leadership at times next season – and Lampard provides it in spades.

He was the man who skippered Chelsea to a win at the Camp Nou and then pulled the side together for their greatest ever night in Munich and his experience on and off the field is going to be a massive loss.

Arguably in a young side, that alone should have warranted another year’s deal at least.