John Terry rubs shoulders with Chelsea fans when he goes to away games as a supporter and believes the trophy-laden times are on pause as he challenged Todd Boehly to create a plan that they can get behind
Chelsea legend John Terry has revealed he goes to away games as a fan – and completely understands their frustrations. Terry won 15 major trophies during a glittering 20 year career at Stamford Bridge from academy graduate to club captain and no-one wants to see Chelsea win more than him.
But Chelsea are trying to rebuild under current joint owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali to bring back the glory days when they ruled Europe under Roman Abramovich.
Chelsea go to the Club World Cup after lifting the Champions League in 2021 but the supporters these days are watching a new-look squad of youngsters rather than proven winners.
Former Chelsea captain Terry admits he talks with the supporters in the away end and, despite their impressive finish to the season, understands why the fans want more.
Terry said: “It’s probably hard in terms of not competing for trophies. That’s the hard bit. I go to away games and stuff, I sit with the supporters and we talk about it. You get a different perspective on stuff because I know the money they are spending and the disparity between the fans and the players is getting bigger and bigger.
“We’re off that at the minute, I have to say. But it’s going to be a process of that. But Chelsea fans, because of what we’ve seen pre-Roman, we’ve seen these down times then it’s fine for us.
“The most important thing for those fans, and I’m a fan, is that we can see a plan is in place. Then I think the fans will buy into it. Whether they’re fully behind it at the moment, I don’t know and I can’t speak for the supporters. But I feel we need a bit of experience in the group. I feel they’re a young bunch, I feel their recent form has been slightly off due to a lack of experience and we’ve lost a couple of the boys due to injury.
“There’s many factors that come into it but do I think we’ll get back to where we were? Yeah, I do. How long will that be? I’m not too sure. Only time will tell.”
Terry won the title five times at Chelsea, was part of the Champions League winning squad in 2012 and will go down as one of the club’s greatest captain and a club legend.
However, Terry admitted that he is jealous of former Blues defender Cesar Azpilicueta who completed the full set by winning the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi after the club’s last European Cup in 2021.
The tournament has been completely overhauled and expanded for the United States this summer and Chelsea are in the mix with the biggest clubs like Real Madrid and Manchester City for the £97m jackpot for winning it as part of an overall prize money of £775m.
Terry added: “I’m really jealous of Azpi winning that and it was the only thing that my generation didn’t. In terms of these current players, you have to be realistic and say they’re not going to win the league, is there much else to offer? No, there’s not. That’s why this is a real opportunity for this group of players to really go and set the tone worldwide, play against the very best teams, the best players and also bring a trophy back. It’s there for all of us to go and win.
“We’d be daft to not field our strongest team, or rest a few players, stuff like that, and it’s a great financial boost for the football clubs, especially if you go and win it as well. That could be the difference of signing a striker, a midfielder or defender, whatever that may be. A keeper. A top class signing.
“I’m jealous of the current players having this opportunity. I promise you, when you’re playing, Dennis Wise said to me a long time ago: ‘you career is going to go in a flash.’ That’s exactly what happened. I’m six years retired now. I’d love to go back for one more game, let alone a competition like this at the end of it.
“Listen, we have to be aware of the players’ welfare and stuff like that. But squads are so big now and also I was at my best when I was playing 65 or 70 games a season because I was in a rhythm. These players have got a real opportunity to go and be the first team to win it.”
John Terry was speaking about Chelsea and the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup. Watch every game from the FIFA Club World Cup on DAZN for free. Sign up today