Online Reporter
JOHN TERRY was the epitome of Chelsea’s golden era under Roman Abramovich.
The most successful captain in the club’s history now thinks the Blues are ready to challenge under new ownership. For all the chopping and changing at Stamford Bridge, Terry — who mentors players in the academy — can see a bright future after a summer of success. Eight months ago, boss Enzo Maresca was shooting down suggestions of a title challenge.
Six months ago, the fans were chanting angrily towards their manager that they wanted “their Chelsea back”.
Since then, Todd Boehly’s Blues have claimed a Champions League place, won the Conference League and the Club World Cup.
And JT – who has exclusively revealed he’s made a decision about his own future in the game – does not think Maresca will talk down their title hopes any more.
The Chelsea legend, 44, told SunSport: “I really liked the honesty from the manager because the message is clear to the players. We’re not there yet.
“If you’re the manager now coming into that dressing room and you’re going, ‘We’ve got a chance this year’, the players will think we’ve got a chance. This year I think his message will be different. He was spot on because we were young, it was a little bit up and down last year. At the moment, we’re clearly building and moving in the right direction. I’m not sitting here saying I want to wait five years to win another Premier League. We’ve got to go into it 100 per cent with the mindset of going, ‘Yes, we have to try to win the league this year’.
“Without a shadow of a doubt. But there’s other big competitions as well.
“You fight right to the end until it’s not possible. The Premier League was done last season, Liverpool were very good last year and rightly the winners. We have to compete for that again.”
Key to success will be whether or not the fledgling leaders within Maresca’s squad can find another level.
Reece James, 25, was called out by his manager last season for not doing enough as a captain but has stepped up since. Centre-back Levi Colwill looked to be following in Terry’s footsteps at the back before his cruel ACL injury last week. And Chelsea’s 15-time trophy-winning former skipper has long been impressed by Enzo Fernandez.
But James staying fit and leading on the pitch will be vital after missing months at a time with hamstring, knee and thigh problems.
Terry added: “For Reece, concentrate on staying fit and having a fully-fit season for him is the most important thing. He can make such a difference.
“We’ve seen the quality. When Reece is at it, he is the world’s best right-back. When you’ve picked up a couple of injuries like Reece has had, it’s difficult to really feel like you belong.
“So when you start demanding from people around you, when you’re the one not playing, that’s also very difficult. When you’re in the starting line-up week in, week out, it’s easy to command and run the dressing room — and the standards of the football club.”
Terry made more than 500 appearances as captain and says boss Jose Mourinho always demanded his skipper be robust and a regular. -Sun.
Mathew Masinge