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Terry has been chatting Chelsea | Getty Images
John Terry has been discussing Chelsea’s shortcomings and his career pivot.
That’s a progression Chelsea are going to need to make in the next year or two, with their young squad expected to mature to the point of being title contenders, but according to Terry, that maturity is not there yet.
Terry, speaking to Reece Mennie on his podcast, said: “I just think at the minute, I think we're missing a little bit of experience within the squad. Now this is the angle that the new owners have gone down, which is fine. We're being successful in a different way to previous ownership. I just think we miss that little bit of experience within the squad.
“We have probably the youngest squad in the Premier League out of all the teams. I just think when you play alongside these experienced players that have been there, done it, seen it, I really think you can impact these younger players.
“I only say that because of my experiences as a youngster, coming through with the likes of Zola, Desailly. When you're around these players, you learn how to eat, you learn how to go to the gym, you learn how to go to bed early. All of these bits of, as an Englishman, you grow up and finish training, go down the pub and have drinks and train again the following day.
“When these boys come in, it's like, no, get in early, train, go in the gym, go upstairs, have some really good food, go home, have an afternoon nap, sleep well that night, come in, feel fresh, go again. All of these little bits of learning I think are important. So I think that's the only missing ingredient for us at the moment. But for us to be able to do that, you need to go and compete with Liverpool, Man City, and spend £100, £120 million on players. That's not Chelsea's model at the moment. What they're doing is working at the moment.
“Do I think we can go and win the league with this squad? Probably not. But we're going to be there or thereabouts. So Champions League football is key for us as well.”
Terry’s managerial pivot
Terry, who has spent time as an assistant coach, once dreamed of being the Chelsea boss, but it seems he has pivoted away from wanting to be a manager, now running a team in the Baller League, an indoor six-a-side competition.
Terry added: “I don't think it's either, I don't think it's a negative or a positive. I don't think winning the Baller League with The 26ers is going to get me back into management, or certainly not the Chelsea job! But I made a conscious decision probably about two years ago to call it a day in terms of me wanting to manage.
“Now, I've said it recently that the Chelsea job is my dream, and of course it is. But without all the other stuff of me managing in League One, the Championship, and then doing well, being successful there, probably doesn't get me to that level of Chelsea. So that's one that I think is going to pass me by.
“That hurts a little bit, but unfortunately that's where I'm at. Coming out of Aston Villa and doing all my badges, applying for jobs and having no success was just really disheartening for me. So I wasn't going to spend the rest of my youth, if you like, or whilst I'm still young enough to go out and do stuff, I wasn't going to waste my time with interviewing for jobs.”
Terry clarified: “No, I won't go back in to management. Firstly, because I love my role at the academy. So I'm an ambassador in the academy where I work with the kids, work from 16s to 18s. But that goes all the way down to under-6s, that's how early they start. So I'm involved in all of that and it's two, three days a week. I go to the games, I do some clips with the boys on the TV after, so I make notes during the games. I'm there during training sessions, I sometimes get my boots on, I sometimes coach within the session. Sometimes I stand back and get a different perspective on it as well.
“I just love my role because everything these boys are going through from 16 to 21, I would have been through as a Chelsea youngster. So I feel like I play a big role, but you have a really small 1%, 2% you can make a bit of an impact in these boys' journeys.
“Chelsea's my life. I love Chelsea. And Chelsea Football Club gave me absolutely everything, right from a kid all the way to where I am today. So I'm very grateful for that. So giving back is really important.”
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