John Terry has admitted that Chelsea are “a long way off” the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool in terms of challenging at the top of the Premier League, but insisted that manager Mauricio Pochettino needs time to allow his project to develop at Stamford Bridge. Terry spoke at the Globe Soccer Awards, broadcast live on TNT Sports, where he won the Player Career prize.
John Terry has admitted that Chelsea are “a long way off” Manchester City and Liverpool at present, but insisted that Mauricio Pochettino needed to be given time at Stamford Bridge.
Terry is The Blues’ record appearance maker with 717 outings for the west London outfit, and he lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy in Munich in 2012 despite being suspended for the final against Bayern Munich.
The former centre-back has also been an assistant manager to Dean Smith twice in his career. The first was back in 2018 at Aston Villa, when The Villans were promoted back to the Premier League, and the second was in April 2023, when Smith was appointed caretaker boss of Leicester City.
Speaking at the Globe Soccer Awards – shown live on TNT Sports – where he received the Player Career Award, Terry conceded that his beloved Blues were not at the level to challenge at the top of the league just yet.
“You know what? I think we’re seeing cycles,” Terry said.
“I think when I look back 10, 15 years ago, Man United were dominating the Premier League. Chelsea came along [and] we dominated for a little bit. Now Pep [Guardiola] and Man City are dominating.
“I’ve said it for a little bit now, it’s going to be hard to catch them. They’re the best team. They’ve got some great individual players and the way they do it year after year is incredible.
“I managed to win the Premier League twice on the bounce and it’s very difficult to do. I wish them well, they’re a fantastic team, but unfortunately Chelsea are a little bit off it at the moment, but give them time.
“The manager needs time. Poch is a great manager, I’ve seen him work on a daily basis. We’re a young squad of players as well, but we’re a long way off of the likes of Man City in Liverpool at the moment.”
The Blues currently sit ninth in the Premier League table, nine points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal, and 14 off Liverpool at the summit.
Pochettino’s side are next in action in the Carabao Cup semi-final, second leg, where they will be looking to overturn the 1-0 defeat they suffered at the hands of Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium, with Hayden Hackney netting the winner.
They then face Aston Villa in a tricky FA Cup tie, before a midweek trip to Anfield on January 31: their first Premier League outing since an unconvincing 1-0 win over Fulham on January 13.
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