Chelsea must target big marquee signings if they are to get back to the top of English football.
That’s the view of Blues legend John Terry who admits he has been impressed with Chelsea’s recent trajectory.
The appointment of Enzo Maresca as manager last summer has proved fruitful so far with success in both the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup last season.
The Italian tactician underwent a serious shake-up of Chelsea’s bloated squad and whilst there is still work to do on that front, Maresca now has a defined squad of players he is counting on to take Chelsea forward.
Their Club World Cup success is not lost on anyone and the way in which they respected Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in the final has only heaped pressure on Maresca and his squad ahead of their assault on the Premier League and Champions League this term.
With fans logically demanding more success, Terry told talkSPORT that he believes patience will be the key to Chelsea’s continued moves in the right direction.
“We’re officially the best team in the world so we’re happy with that,” Terry joked. “I don’t want too much pressure on the boys because we are a young squad.
“With this year and with the experience of pushing the other teams close I think we have a chance to be up there and we should be because we’re Chelsea.
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“I think any top side or any young and experienced player going into the season saying, ‘We can’t win it,’ shouldn’t be playing at the top level.
“So I think every Chelsea player should believe we can go and win it.
“Do I think we will? No, I don’t being honest with you but I think we’ll be right amongst it and I think we should be.”
Chelsea have been active in the summer transfer window with the signings of Estevao Willian, Jamie Gittens, Jorrel Hato and Facundo Buonanotte on loan from Brighton.
Prior to June’s Club World Cup, the Blues brought in striker Joao Pedro and Liam Delap to further bolster Chelsea’s front line.
While it can be argued that Chelsea’s business was good, it was reigning Premier League champions Liverpool who stole the headlines by splashing a whopping £446million on new signings.
The Reds’ summer splurge included Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, German playmaker Florian Wirtz and young French striker Hugo Ekitike.
What must Chelsea do to get back to the top of English football?
Asked how Chelsea can leapfrog Liverpool and win their first Premier League title since 2017, Terry said: “I’d love to see us in the mix for big signings if we want to be back to our very best and at the top winning Premier Leagues year after year.
“I think the only thing we’re missing at the moment is those marquee signings.”
“[This Season], I think Liverpool are the strongest side,” he added. “I think Manchester City have shown vulnerability again this season.
“I’m not sure Chelsea have enough experience within their squad to push them.”
Magic Maresca
Terry, who works within Chelsea’s academy set-up, says he sees first hand the job Maresca has done in uniting the club and the players.
The 44-year-old says that from what he has seen, he has been left impressed by the systems put in place by the Chelsea boss and his backroom team.
“I’ve been very impressed with him to be honest. He’s very inviting with me as I’m obviously working in the academy,” Terry revealed.
“I get to see him work and he’s very personal with the players.
“I think the biggest thing for any manager this year is being close to the players and he seems to have a really good connection with the younger players.
“He’s very young himself. He understands the players, he understands what they want and he’s certainly getting the best out of them at the moment.”
