John Terry says he ‘f***ing loves’ Alfie Gilchrist’s unorthodox effort to block the ball with his head – immediately after wild no-nonsense tackle – with Chelsea fans going wild for 20-year-old’s commitment
- John Terry has thrown his support behind Chelsea academy star Alfie Gilchrist
- The 20-year-old showed passion as he made his Blues debut on Wednesday
- 'He's a dead man walking': How can Erik ten Hag restore control at Man United before Sir Jim Ratcliffe puts his stamp on the club? It all starts
John Terry on Wednesday shared an X-rated love for Alfie Gilchrist's attempt to block the ball during the 20-year-old's debut for Chelsea.
Gilchrist, who has captained the Blues at every age level, came off the bench to replace Benoit Badiashile in stoppage time at the end of Chelsea's 2-1 win over Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.
And although his first-team debut was short-lived, it showed the academy star's commitment to the role as he steamrolled in one tackle, before trying to use his head to block a Palace move immediately afterwards.
Sharing a snippet of the incident, wrote a Chelsea fan on X (formerly Twitter): 'Alfie Gilchrist went to block the ball with his head, I'm dying, this man is a lunatic', alongside a series of happy crying tears.
The video also made its way to Chelsea legend Terry, with one Instagram user writing: 'Is that Alfie or JT? Love the passion,” along with a strong arm emoji and a blue heart.
Defender Alfie Gilchrist came off the bench to make his Chelsea debut against Crystal Palace
Fans were impressed by the 20-year-old's efforts during stoppage time on Wednesday
Gilchrist steamrolled in one tackle, before trying to use his head to stop a Crystal Palace move
Blues legend John Terry 'loved' Gilchrist's effort after a comparison was made
Terry, 43, also worked his way through Chelsea's youth system and became one of the club's key figures during their dominance in the 2000s and 2010s.
He tagged Gilchrist's account in his Insta story, before adding the caption: 'I f***ing love this', with a blue heart, a football emoji and a fist bump.
Chelsea's official X page pposted a short clip from Gilchrist after the match, next to the caption: 'Giving everything for the badge.'
Gilchrist told fans: 'Hi guys, it's Alfie here. “I'm happy to make my Chelsea debut and play at Stamford Bridge.”
Chelsea signed Gilchrist as an Under-11 from Queens Park Rangers and has repeatedly impressed in Chelsea's age groups during his time with the Blues.
One photo shared on social media showed a young Gilchrist alongside another Chelsea legend, Didier Drogba.
The highly rated defender captained Chelsea's youth teams last season and impressed against senior sides in the EFL Trophy, all of which has caught the attention of Terry, who has spoken openly about his admiration for Gilchrist.
When asked by a fan which academy player Chelsea supporters should keep an eye on, Terry said: 'Alfie Gilchrist, he's a really good player. He has an incredible attitude. He has been with the club since he was eight.
Gilchrist joined Chelsea from QPR's under-11s and posed with Didier Drogba as a youngster
Terry, 43, worked his way up from the academy and gave Gilchrist a bright future
Terry hoped Gilchrist would make a number of first-team appearances before heading out on loan
'He performs so well every day, does everything well. I think he has a good chance.'
Terry wrote before the Palace match that he hoped to see Gilchrist make a few first-team appearances before continuing to learn the game on loan.
Players such as Reece James, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson-Odoi have risen through the ranks of Chelsea's academy and found success at clubs across Europe.