LONDON -- Guus Hiddink admits he was surprised by John Terry's decision to announce that he expects to leave Chelsea at the end of the season, but says the defender has earned the right to make up his mind about his future.
Terry, 35, informed reporters after Chelsea's 5-1 victory over MK Dons in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday that the club had declined to offer him an extension to his current contract that expires in the summer, adding that he will look to join a team outside the Premier League.
In a statement released hours later, the Blues confirmed that no contract offer had been put to Terry and his representatives, but insisted that the "channels of dialogue" would remain open about keeping their captain at Stamford Bridge.
"It was sad by John and he is entitled when his contract is expiring to make up his mind," Hiddink told a news conference. "On the other hand there is also, in the club's eyes, a dialogue, an open door. It was a bit surprising [the announcement] but he's completely entitled to do so when his contract is expiring.
"There is no specific decision made yet. It's early and we have to see what's coming up in the progress of the transition of the management. I like very much the way he's playing and is committed to the team and he will [continue to] be, I can assure you because I also had some conversations with him in the past days about all kinds of things."
Terry's announcement was greeted with disapproval by many Chelsea supporters towards their club's approach, particularly in light of the one-year extension agreed with vice-captain Branislav Ivanovic earlier in January and the transfer decisions to sign Alexandre Pato and Matt Miazga while selling Ramires.
Hiddink insists that "every issue is an individual case" but does not believe that Terry's advanced age or physical state are in any way related to the current contract stand-off.
"John's statistics and also the view I have on him is that he's very fit and not what you normally see in a 35- or 36-year-old player," Hiddink added. "I experienced that myself on a lower level, that you feel you're getting a little bit slower, you're getting into a danger zone where you're going into red cards, etc.
"None of that for John. He's fit, performing as he's doing and I'm convinced he will do while I'm here. We talked about this issue and he will do regardless of the situation -- not just as a professional but with all his heart as well."
Hiddink also revealed that Pato had to leave and re-enter England on deadline day as part of the process of completing his paperwork. The Brazilian is now fully registered to feature against Watford on Wednesday but Chelsea's interim manager does not think his new signing is anywhere close to peak condition.
"He is some way off in fitness," Hiddink said of Pato. "Yesterday he had to do bureaucratic stuff which we have to accept -- he was out of the country to come into the country and get this paperwork done, so he had worked for a few training sessions and he will be in this afternoon.
"I don't know if he's up to the game, we'll decide later in the afternoon but he's in preparation and not fully fit. The paperwork is done and formally he is available. But there's another thing physically, mentally. He has done hardly a training session with the whole team. That's why we have to be careful to prepare him very well as soon as possible."