- John Terry captained Chelsea to their last Premier League title back in 2017
- The legendary club captain believes patience is needed with the current side
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Why Eddie Howe is the ‘greatest coach of his generation’
Legendary Chelsea captain John Terry has warned the Blues could be as far as five years away from challenging for the Premier League title.
Chelsea last won the Premier League back in 2017, with Terry lifting the trophy at the end of his final season at the club.
Terry had led the Blues to five league titles during Roman Abramovich’s era, which concluded with the sale to Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital in 2022.
Chelsea finished 12th and sixth in the first two seasons under the new ownership, with the club having invested heavily in young players.
While Chelsea are well placed to secure a return to the Champions League, with Enzo Maresca’s side lying fourth in the table, they are currently 21 points behind league leaders Liverpool.
Speaking to the Sun, Terry revealed he believes Chelsea could still be three to five years away from mounting a challenge for the Premier League title, but claimed the club are moving in the right direction.
Former Chelsea captain John Terry believes the current side could be five years from a title bid
Terry was the last Chelsea captain to lead the Blues to the Premier League title back in 2017
Enzo Marseca’s side are currently fourth in the table, but 21 points adrift of leaders Liverpool
‘In terms of where we were 20 years ago, we’re not there. But we’re in a transition period,’ Terry said.
‘As ex-players and fans we need to be very patient with that. And I say that with a ‘very’ in front of it because I think we’re three to five years off competing for the Premier League in my opinion.
‘But it was always going to be a process. When you sign young players – and we lost a bit of experience with Thiago Silva and those guys last year – there was going to be a process.
‘Even at the start of the season when things were going well, I expected a little drop from the players just because of that lack of experience and the game time.
‘So I’m comfortable with the direction we’re going in.’
Terry claimed the Blues, however, must continue to show progress by closing the gap to Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City.
Chelsea had begun the season impressively under Maresca to prompt hopes of a title bid in December.
The Italian, however, had played down title talk but claimed Chelsea would become of the teams who could dominate English football over the next five to 10 years.
Chelsea have spent close to £1.5billion since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital’s takeover
Chelsea since fell off the pace in the Premier League and are now locked in battle for Champions League qualification.
The Blues have had a heavy emphasis in recent transfer windows on signing young players with high ceilings who can grow into stars at the club, rather than in investing in ready-made world-beaters
Close to £1.5billion on their playing squad since the takeover in May 2022.
Chelsea could still win silverware for the first time since 2021 this season.
Maresca’s side are through to the quarter-finals of the Conference League, where they will face Polish side Legia Warsaw.
