Jose Mourinho has heaped praise on Chelsea captain John Terry after the defender became the fourth player to notch up 600 appearances for the Blues.

The former England international, reached the milestone in Sunday's 2-1 home victory over Liverpool.

And the Portuguese lauded the 33-year-old's achievements, most notably the current season.

"I think more important than the 600 matches is the fact he played every minute in the 19 matches in the Premier League this season," he said.

"Only Petr Cech has done that and he is a goalkeeper.

"John is the only outfield player that played 19 times, 90 minutes, which is amazing for a player that last season lots of people were thinking is going down (hill).

"He is showing fantastic quality, I'm happy for him, as I told him at the beginning of the season the players I had in the past I have a special connection with them. But I don't give positions because I like or I have a relationship with them.

"At this moment every  game he is getting is not because he is my man, my friend or I respect him from my first period. He's getting these minutes because he is playing fantastically well."

Mourinho's men are third on the English Premiership table, after defeating Liverpool 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, but the Blues face a tough trip to Southampton on new years day.