Gary Cahill has faced many challenges in his Chelsea career but replacing John Terry as captain may have been the hardest of the lot.

Over the past five years, Cahill has fought off competition from new signings at Stamford Bridge so succesfully that he has gone on to captain his country and could lead England when they face Germany tomorrow.

However, taking the armband off Chelsea’s greatest captain has not been so easy. At 36, Terry is clearly not the defender he once was but winning 14 major trophies, 13 of which came during his captaincy, means his status at Stamford Bridge is secured.

Terry has failed to regain his place in the side since injuring his ankle in September with coach Antonio Conte making Cahill Chelsea’s leader on the pitch instead.

That is pressure in itself but the fact Terry is his closest friend at the club potentially added even more of a strain.

However, Cahill’s performance against Stoke on Saturday showed how well he is coping. Even after conceding a soft penalty, it was his late strike that won the game to maintain Chelsea’s 10-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

It was an intervention worthy of Terry himself but Cahill downplays any comparison.

He told Standard Sport: “I would never try to fill John Terry’s boots. You can never fill that position. When I took over as captain this season, either through him not being picked or not being available, it was a privilege to do that.

“Firstly, I have learned from how he manages himself, how he plays and how he does things. But secondly, I never thought for one minute, or will ever think, that I’m replacing him. He is right at the top and whoever comes in after him is never going to achieve what he’s done at the club.

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“It’s one of those situations where you have to separate yourself from it. The way that I prepare, the way that I play, the way that I like to speak to the lads or manage situations is the way that I do things.

“Nothing has changed in my game since I had that armband, apart from the fact I’m now 31 and I have learned a lot from someone like him. I will continue to learn from him while he is at the club.”

The duo have shared a close bond since Cahill left Bolton for Chelsea for £7m in January 2012, three years after they became England team-mates. However, the veteran defender is not trying to interfere now that Cahill is the main voice on matchday.

“I have been my own man,” Cahill insisted. “We have a great relationship, everyone knows that. John leaves me to get on with it. I don’t think he looks at me like a 21-year-old coming through. He knows I have played my fair share of big games and am experienced enough to handle it. At the same time, I have always tried in my career to look at what people do and soak it in myself.

“They don’t necessarily have to say things, I just watch and learn from all kinds of people and he is, obviously, one of them. I feel like I can be me but I have obviously learned from the best.”

These kind of skills have led him to also take on the responsibility for the England team, too. It is expected either Cahill or Joe Hart will lead the side in Dortmund tomorrow and if it is the former then it will be his fifth game as national skipper. Cahill is appearing alongside Gareth Southgate at an England press conference tonight, raising the prospect he will get the nod.

Just like at Chelsea, some people question whether Cahill is good enough to play for the team, let alone be given the biggest honour of them all.

But his desire to succeed should not be underestimated.

Cahill, who has won five major trophies at Chelsea, explained: “I always think coming through adversity is a sign of character.

“Getting criticised just puts that fire in my belly. I want to go out and prove people wrong. I have been doing that all of my career. I would say that to a young lad coming through. That this is the way it’s going to be, especially at a big club like this.

“The criticism I had at the start of the season was tough but people don’t seem to see what I have done at Chelsea. There have been many good players that have come to Chelsea and have been gone after a year or two. Chelsea have the ability to buy players from all over the world but it’s a credit to me that I’m still here.

“There is a reason I’m still here, still playing. There is a reason behind why the manager picks players.

“The coach sees players day in, day out, knows the character and the way that they play. You’re not going to play for this club if you don’t have ability or if you don’t have character.”

Twelve months ago, Cahill was captain when England secured a thrilling 3-2 friendly win in Germany.

Given he is suspended for Sunday’s World Cup qualifier against Lithuania after he was booked in the previous two Group F matches what does Cahill think about the prospect of being skipper of the national side again?

“It’s been a privilege for me to do it before and it would be fantastic if I got a chance to do it again,” said the 52-cap defender. “I’m just glad I’m back in the squad and I’m going to play in a big friendly. I’m looking forward to it — what will be, will be.”