BREAKING NEWS: reporting live from Stamford bridge, Chelsea legend John Terry tells fans not to expect anything new from Chelsea this season and has Also criticized the club for not finding a suitable replacement for Thiago Silva. He said, “If you want to be a successful club, if you want to challenge and compete in the Premier League, you must have a good defence. The Chelsea defence isn’t good. I can’t understand how the club can allow Thiago Silva to go and not think that they need to bring in someone that can run the backline with authority.” The Chelsea defence is missing a top-class centre back. They need someone to guide them – John Terry says one key area of Chelsea squad is not good.

Former Chelsea defender John Terry has voiced his concerns over the club’s failure to adequately strengthen their defense during the summer transfer window. Terry, who is now a football pundit, has openly criticized the Blues for not finding a proper replacement for Thiago Silva, a key figure in Chelsea’s backline for several years.

Thiago Silva, who joined Chelsea in 2020, quickly established himself as a marquee center-back and leader within the team. He was instrumental in helping the club secure the UEFA Champions League trophy during the 2020-21 season. However, since that triumph, Chelsea has experienced notable struggles, although Silva continued to perform at a high level and anchor the defense. Now, with the 39-year-old veteran no longer at Stamford Bridge, Terry believes that Chelsea is lacking an elite central defender to take charge of the defensive line.

Speaking to *FOOTBALLWAVE*, Terry expressed his concerns:
“If you want to be a successful club, if you want to challenge and compete in the Premier League, you must have a good defense. The Chelsea defense isn’t good. I can’t understand how the club can allow Thiago Silva to go and not think that they need to bring in someone that can run the backline with authority.”

Terry further emphasized that the current defense is missing a top-tier center-back, and it’s too much pressure to expect young talents like Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana to take full control of the backline without guidance. “They’re both promising players,” Terry noted, “but they need someone to guide them.”

Terry also pointed out that a solid defensive foundation is crucial for success. “If you don’t have good defenders, if you don’t have a strong base, you can score goals but you’re going to concede goals, and you will drop points. That’s what happened against Crystal Palace.”

The Blues are set to face Bournemouth next in the Premier League on September 14, and Terry’s comments have highlighted the urgency for Chelsea to address their defensive vulnerabilities.

**John Terry Criticizes Chelsea’s Draw with Crystal Palace**

Terry also voiced frustration with Chelsea’s recent 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace, criticizing the team for their inconsistency and lack of confidence. Under new manager Enzo Maresca, Chelsea’s start to the 2024-25 Premier League season has been mixed. After a tough 2-0 loss to Manchester City in their opening match, the Blues bounced back with an emphatic 6-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. However, they were unable to carry that momentum into their game against Crystal Palace, resulting in a disappointing draw at Stamford Bridge.

Terry believes that the constant changes in the squad over the past two years have contributed to Chelsea’s struggles. He stated (via the same outlet), “As a Chelsea fan, especially after beating Wolves 2-6, you would be right to think that your club, after everything you’ve seen from them, everything you’re used to historically, is going to beat Palace at home.”

Terry noted that just a few years ago, Chelsea fans would have considered a match against Crystal Palace at home to be a guaranteed three points. However, the club’s lack of consistency and the absence of top players in key positions have diminished that confidence. “They don’t have that confidence anymore,” Terry remarked. “They are so inconsistent, but that is what you get when you make so many changes and are missing top, top players in key positions.”

He went on to explain that while there will be moments when everything clicks for Chelsea, there will likely be more instances where the team struggles due to its lack of stability. Chelsea’s inconsistency has been a growing concern, and Terry’s comments reflect the frustration many fans share as the club attempts to rebuild and regain its former dominance.

As Chelsea heads into their next match against Bournemouth, all eyes will be on whether the team can address their defensive shortcomings and deliver a more cohesive and confident performance. The absence of a proven leader in defense remains a major talking point, with Terry’s criticism shedding light on the importance of filling the gap left by Thiago Silva.