Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has insisted that Gary Cahill is still the club captain despite the central defender struggling for first-team football this season.

Cahill, 32, made 43 appearances in all competitions for the Blues last term but has only played 21 minutes of Premier League football during the 2018-19 campaign.

Sarri has confirmed that Cahill remains Chelsea captain despite his lack of minutes this term, with Cesar Azpilicueta the skipper when the former England international is not involved.

"The captain is Cahill, and, if he's not on the pitch, it's [Cesar] Azpilicueta," Sarri told reporters. "Cahill was the captain last season and I have spoken with his mates, and everybody told me that he was really a very good captain."

Cahill is closing in on 300 appearances for Chelsea following a 2011 move from Bolton Wanderers, but the central defender has been tipped to leave Stamford Bridge at the start of 2019.