John Terry offers bleak assessment of Chelsea’s struggles as Blues legend has his say on Mauricio Pochettino

JOHN TERRY believes Chelsea are a “long way off” Manchester City and Liverpool – but claims Mauricio Pochettino is still the right manager.

The England legend fears it will be quite a while before his old club win the Premier League for the first time since 2017.

John Terry hopes Chelsea keep faith in boss Mauricio PochettinoRex

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JT rates Pochettino as a ‘great manager’[/caption]

But JT appears to have no doubts over Pochettino, despite Chelsea sitting just ninth in the Prem, 12 points off the top four.

Ex-Tottenham chief Poch spent  £448.5million on new players last summer.

But many 2023 buys have so far been poor value for money, notably £107m Enzo Fernandez and especially £115m Moises Caicedo.

However, Terry is well placed to deliver a positive verdict.

The 78-cap former centre-back won the Prem five times and the Champions League once as a Chelsea player from 1998-2017.

JT, 43, then returned to Stamford Bridge last year to do some academy coaching.

And after picking up a Player Career gong at at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, he said: “Unfortunately, Chelsea are a little bit off it at the moment. 

“But given time – the manager needs time – Poch is a great manager. I’ve seen him work on a daily basis.”

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Terry, though, is realistic about the Blues’ short-term future.

He added: “We are a young squad of players as well, but we are a long way off the likes of Man City and Liverpool at the moment.”

“I think we’re seeing cycles. I think when I look back 10, 15 years ago, ‘Man United were dominating the Premier League.

“Chelsea come along, we dominated for a little bit. Now Pep and Man City are dominating.”

Instagram @johnterry.26

Terry reckons Pochettino can become a Stamford Bridge legend like him[/caption]

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