“Still doing pre-season tours around North London” - John Terry hits back after ex-Spurs star says Tottenham are bigger global club than Chelsea

Chelsea legend John Terry slammed ex-Tottenham Hotspur star Jamie O'Hara for claiming that Spurs are 'globally a bigger club' than the Blues. The former English defender asserted that the statement is 'absolutely ridiculous'.

A graduate of the Blues' famed Cobham academy, Terry racked up 67 goals and 27 assists in 717 appearances for his boyhood side between 1998 and 2017. His tenure as club captain (2004-2017) is widely regarded as one of the most successful periods in club history.

He lifted five Premier League titles, five FA Cups, three EFL Cups, one UEFA Champions League title and one Europa League title with Chelsea. Yet, despite all the aforementioned sucess, O'Hara has claimed that Spurs have a richer history than their London rivals and are consequently a bigger club globally.

He claimed that the ownership of Roman Abramovich (2003-2022) transformed the club, questioning their relevance prior to the takeover. Speaking on TalkSPORT, the 39-year-old said:

"What are Chelsea? Do you know what I mean? They're big because of Roman Abramovich, aren't they? Fair play to them, they spent loads of money, they bought the league a couple of times, but their big game is Tottenham. We don't even care about that... We're the biggest club in London. Spurs globally are bigger than Chelsea, they are. We’ve got a rich history... They're big because they brought big players in and they’ve become a big club."

Terry did not take too kindly to these words, lashing out via a hilarious voice note sent to TalkSPORT co-host Gabriel Agbonlahor. It said:

"What on earth is he on about this morning, O'Hara? Even using those two words together, Spurs and globally, should never be in the same sentence ever, ever again. Mate, they're still doing their pre-season tours around North London. Absolutely ridiculous. Also, I've been invited to the game by Tottenham at the weekend. So it's a 5.30 kick-off. They've asked me to get there at 5.29 and they said they'll take me round the trophy cabinet and they'll have me in my seat by kick-off. That's how miles off it they are, mate."

While the debate rages on, the comparison of on-field success would sway the Chelsea-Tottenham derby in the former's favour. In contrast to the Blues' prolonged success over the last three decades, Spurs have only won two titles since the turn of the millennium - the 2007-08 EFL Cup and the 2024-25 Europa League.

"Always a tough one to call" - England icon Alan Shearer predicts outcome of Chelsea vs Tottenham

Former England forward Alan Shearer has predicted that the high-stakes Premier League encounter between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur will end in a draw.

In his column for Metro, the 55-year-old wrote:

“This game is always a tough one to call, always a bit of spice, always really interesting, and always chucks up some incidents. We’ll have to wait and see, but with it being a London derby, I’m going to say a score draw in this one, and a point each."

Having already received five red cards this season, the Blues were warned by Shearer to keep their composure to avoid another in the intensity of the derby. He added:

"One thing Chelsea can't afford is another red card. Losing a player in these games can make a huge difference, but it wouldn't surprise me because there's always a bit of needle in this game."

Enzo Maresca's side will take on Thomas Frank's Spurs on at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday (November 1).

Edited by Aaryan Nagraj