José Mourinho Hails Kurt Zouma as John Terry’s Heir
Chelsea manager José Mourinho has once again heaped praise on young French defender Kurt Zouma, drawing bold comparisons to some of football’s defensive greats. After previously likening him to Marcel Desailly, Mourinho now believes Zouma could one day step into the shoes of club legend John Terry.
“He’s our fastest defender. His progress will accelerate even more when he goes to the national team,” Mourinho said. “We brought him in because of his physicality, but tactically, he wasn’t so good. In pre-season, I saw him make mistakes. I thought he needed time.”
Despite early challenges after his move from AS Saint-Étienne, Zouma has steadily earned his place in Chelsea’s squad, impressing his manager with both his attitude and development.
“He’s brilliant, humble, hard-working, and he’s now rivaling Cahill. At 23-24, he’ll already be a very mature player, probably with leadership qualities that will allow him to replace Terry.”
At just 20 years old, Zouma’s rise under Mourinho’s guidance is already being watched closely, and with such endorsements, expectations are high for him to become a cornerstone of Chelsea’s future defense.
