John Terry hits out at Chelsea owners over snub – ‘I should have been part of them’ | Football | Sport

John Terry admits he felt ‘frustrated’ after being passed over when Calum McFarlane was brought in as Chelsea’s caretaker head coach earlier this season, and has raised questions about why the club’s hierarchy overlooked him. Terry, 45, is a Chelsea icon following nearly two decades at the club, rising through the academy system to become club captain.

He made over 700 appearances for the Blues, won five Premier League titles and the Champions League, before departing in 2017. He currently holds a consultancy position within the club’s academy structure. Despite working alongside McFarlane with the Under-21s and Under-18s, Terry was excluded from the group that took temporary charge when Enzo Maresca departed the club at the beginning of January.

McFarlane oversaw the side for a crucial fixture against Manchester City and received widespread praise following the 1-1 draw. He also managed the loss against Fulham before Liam Rosenior commenced work as the Blues’ new head coach – but Terry expressed disappointment at being completely left out of the caretaker setup.

“[I wasn’t] annoyed,” Terry told Jimmy Bullard whilst appearing on his Golf Life YouTube channel.

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“Probably more frustrated because I was certainly part of that under-21s group that went over. So even if I didn’t take the team. Obviously, Calum took the team and did really well. Got a result out of the game.

“I feel like I should have been part of them. Now, listen. People have got to make decisions. I love it when people make decisions and they go yes or no. And clearly ownership or whoever made those decisions, the sporting directors have gone ‘no’, not to include me for whatever reason – why, I don’t know.”

Terry embarked on a coaching career at Aston Villa following a brief stint as a player for the Midlands club before hanging up his boots, subsequently serving as Dean Smith’s assistant at both Villa Park and later at Leicester.

He was touted for the Oxford United vacancy earlier this campaign before dismissing such speculation, and acknowledges that whilst he harbours ambitions of one day managing Chelsea, securing such a role without accumulating further managerial experience remains unlikely.

Terry added: “I got linked with the Oxford job recently. Which [there is] no truth in it at all. I hadn’t spoken to them. Hadn’t kind of put myself out there. And I’m not [looking to]. Like I’m in the academy as you know. I’m working with the 18s and the 21s. Love my role there. It’s a part-time basis.

“I’ve always said if Chelsea ever come up [would love to take over] but then, realistically, do I get Chelsea without doing the other bits? Probably not.”