John Terry warns Chelsea fans it could be FIVE YEARS before club compete for a title and urges them to be ‘very patient’

JOHN TERRY believes it could be “three to five years” before Chelsea celebrate another Premier League title.

But despite spending more than £1billion on new players he has also called for patience from fans desperate to see the Blues dominating English football again.

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John Terry warned Chelsea fans it could be a long wait for another Premier League title[/caption]

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Terry embodies the most successful period in Chelsea history with his immense haul of trophies from a glittering 19-year career as captain, leader and legend as the supporters say.

In a wide-ranging interview in which he also hailed Cole Palmer’s leadership, Dan Burn’s heroics and gave his view on Thomas Tuchel as England boss, five-time Prem champion Terry said: “In terms of where we were 20 years ago, we’re not there. But we’re in a transition period. 

“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.

“Man City have been off it this year but they’re still a top side.

“As long as we keep seeing progression and closing the gap towards Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City, because they’ve got to be the targets for everyone.”

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The only trophy Terry, 44, failed to collect during his time at Stamford Bridge – which spanned three decades – was Fifa’s Club World Cup.

Chelsea and Manchester City are the two English representatives at the revamped 32-team tournament in the USA this summer. 

Where once it was seen as a two-week exhibition event in the Middle East, the best sides in Europe and the rest of the world will be on display.

Terry works two days a week at the renowned Chelsea academy which launched him on the road to stardom.

He believes the Club World Cup can be a springboard for the youngest squad in the top flight this season aged 23 ½ to gain valuable experience in the hunt for future glory.

The former centre-back said: “If there’s one thing in the group you miss, it’s probably a bit of experience. 

As ex-players and fans we need to be very patient. 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.

John Terry

“So adding that on with competing and adding better players to the squad every year, playing in this Club World Cup is going to give the club £52million. That helps towards buying another player, another striker maybe, or defender, goalkeeper, midfielder, whatever that looks like.

“We’re a big club, that’s what we’ve represented over the last 20 years. We want to be part of that.

“We want to be competing against the best sides. It goes back to this, the Fifa Club World Cup. You want to be competing against the best sides, the best teams, the best players and testing yourself. And Chelsea are used to that.

“It’s the trophy that passed me by. One I didn’t win. As players, you want to win all the trophies possible and test yourself against the best players and best teams. 

“This gives you the opportunity to do that.  People’s perception of it is new and people don’t like change. It’s going to take time.”

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Cole Palmer is a ‘leader’ in the Chelsea team[/caption]

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The forward sets the example – and not just with his goalscoring[/caption]

If Chelsea are to get their hands on the Club World Cup – and more importantly the Premier League trophy in years to come – JT knows Palmer will play a key role.

But while many will immediately think of Palmer’s goals and assists, even amid a two-month goal drought and first missed penalty, Chelsea’s greatest-ever captain is impressed by his leadership.

Terry witnessed first hand how deceptively strong wispish-looking Palmer is with the way he outstripped his team-mates in a recent bleep test at the training ground.

JT added: “He probably doesn’t think, ‘I’m a leader here’, but he’s leading the group with his standards – ‘This is the standard you probably need to get up to. You need to get as fit as me.’

“From afar people look at captains and leadership as if you’ve got to be that big vocal guy, screaming, shouting, barking orders. I think it’s very different now.

“A lot of players now do it in the way they’re playing. He certainly falls under that category. Cole’s probably leading the way he likes to lead.

“He’s been incredible for us. He’s taken a lot of the heat in terms of our dip, but also in terms of our first part of the season.

From afar people look at captains and leadership as if you’ve got to be that big vocal guy, screaming, shouting, barking orders. I think it’s very different now.

John Terry

“It was probably all him, with his goals, contributions, work rate. Everything Chelsea were doing well revolved around him.

“Teams have obviously identified that he’s the big threat and there needs to be a real focus.”

Another man who is proving to be a big threat is Newcastle’s Burn, who opened the scoring in the Carabao Cup final win just days after receiving his maiden England call-up.

And Chelsea-mad Terry reckons Blyth-born Burn’s love for the Toon is a brilliant advert for football.

Terry, who played 717 times for the Blues after joining the club aged 14, said: “I know Dan and see him every now and then. I am just delighted for him because obviously Newcastle means to him what Chelsea means to me.

“When you’re that player and it’s your club growing up that you’ve loved and everything it means the world to you.

“All of us at the weekend were Newcastle supporters. It’s great to see.

“Newcastle are probably Premier League supporters’ second team everyone loves. I think they’re really exciting to watch.

“Big Dan’s been brilliant as well. I’m delighted for him to get called up to the England side as well.

“He obviously has a real threat at set plays.

“He’s done great and been really consistent over the last couple of years with Newcastle. Being part of that journey back to where they want to be, I am so delighted for him.”

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Dan Burn’s love for Newcastle is brilliant for football[/caption]

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Burn received his first England call-up from new manager Thomas Tuchel[/caption]

Burn is part of Tuchel’s first squad since replacing Gareth Southgate as Three Lions boss.

The former Chelsea boss was a controversial selection as the German got the nod over English candidates, including Burn’s club boss Eddie Howe, but has been brought in with the sole goal of winning the World Cup next year.

Terry crossed paths with Tuchel during his 18-month stint as Chelsea boss from January 2021 to September 2022 – which included lifting the Champions League.

Patriotic JT admits it is an adjustment having an England manager who hails from one of our great sporting rivals.

But he believes the next generation of England coaches could mature while Tuchel is in charge.

Terry said: “It wouldn’t be top of my list, but we’ve had foreign managers before, not German, but being England we have to get the best.

“If the FA identify him as being the best, whether he’s from Brazil or Germany or wherever, let’s get him.

“Have we got the level of coaches at that top, top level that have won major trophies and Champions Leagues? No, we haven’t.

“We saw Eddie Howe winning the other day, which is really refreshing.

“We see Frank Lampard doing well, so really setting the tone for the next generation of managers and young English managers need to be encouraged by that.

“Hopefully one day we can have the best English manager as the England manager.

“As a country, we need to be getting the best. Tuchel falls in that category, so absolutely why not? He’s a very good coach as well.”

• John Terry was speaking on Chelsea and the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup. Watch every game from the FIFA Club World Cup on DAZN for free. Sign up today:  https://www.dazn.com/competition/Competition:dc4k1xh2984zbypbnunk7ncic

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Terry is enjoying seeing pal Frank Lampard succeed at Coventry[/caption]

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The former England skipper will keep a close eye on how Tuchel gets on with the Three Lions[/caption]