Chelsea icon John Terry has shed light on the reasons behind the club’s dip in form under Enzo Maresca during the second half of the 2024-25 season. After a strong start that saw them touted as title contenders, Chelsea’s performances have waned, leaving them scrambling to secure a Champions League spot.
Speaking to DR Sports, Terry attributed the drop in form to the team’s youth and lack of experience. With an average starting XI age of just 23.5 years—the youngest in the Premier League—Chelsea has struggled to maintain consistency. While the squad showed immense promise early on, Terry believes a mid-season slump was almost inevitable given their inexperience.
Despite their struggles, the former captain insisted that qualifying for the Champions League should always be a minimum requirement for a club of Chelsea’s stature. He urged the squad to show resilience in the final stretch of the campaign, emphasizing that top-four finishes must remain a non-negotiable target for a team of their caliber.
The turning point in Chelsea’s season came in a dismal 3-0 defeat to Brighton last month. The performance was so concerning that senior players reportedly organized a behind-the-scenes meeting at Cobham Training Centre. The discussions were described as a blunt exchange of words, with players voicing their concerns over their dwindling hopes of securing a top-four finish.
Maresca himself was openly frustrated by the Brighton defeat, calling it the worst performance of his tenure. He acknowledged that a win could have helped Chelsea close the gap to third place but instead, the loss highlighted deeper concerns about the team’s mentality. Addressing these issues has since become a priority for the Italian manager.
Following that loss, Chelsea endured another setback with a narrow defeat to Aston Villa but showed signs of recovery with a resounding 4-0 victory over Southampton. The bounce-back performance provided a much-needed confidence boost, but questions about the squad’s ability to string together consistent results remain.
With just 11 matches left, Chelsea currently sits fifth in the Premier League table, keeping Champions League qualification within reach. However, given the fierce competition, they cannot afford further slip-ups if they want to return to Europe’s elite stage next season.
As the season heads toward its climax, all eyes will be on Maresca’s young squad to see if they can prove their worth under pressure. Terry’s analysis serves as both a warning and a challenge—Chelsea’s future depends on their ability to grow, learn, and deliver when it matters most.