John Terry adamant Chelsea must stick by Mauricio Pochettino: "I love the way he is"

John Terry wants Mauricio Pochettino to be given more time at Chelsea after seeing the Argentine’s work close up on the training ground.

The Blues legend, who is back at the club’s Academy, said: “I love the way he is with the players. We need to be patient.”

The Argentine takes his team to Nottingham Forest on Saturday as Chelsea pursue a place in European football next season. New owners BlueCo will review Pochettino’s position at the end of the season after spending a billion pounds on new players. Co-owner Todd Boehly this week praised the “beautiful football” in the comeback at Aston Villa and two London derby wins.

And Terry, Chelsea’s most successful ever captain who won five Premier League titles and the 2012 Champions League, has added his support to the club’s head coach.

“I think Poch has done well,” said the former England skipper. “It was always going to be difficult right from the outset - we were a very young group of players from the outset. There were a lot of signings and a big clearcut in the summer of not only players but staff as well. There was a big turnaround and obviously Poch is new in the door.

“I have seen him work, I love the way he works, I love the way he is with the players. He certainly needs a bit of time. And I think we have seen that in the last couple of weeks, the better performances we have seen, the players growing into their roles and feeling like they belong at Chelsea as well. That is also going to take time and I just think we need to be patient. I think every club needs stability

“We have been very lucky at Chelsea. For 20 years we have had success year after year after year. We have got a young squad and we look like we have got some really good players at the moment that can grow into their roles. Hopefully next season will be better.”

Terry, 43, is now working part-time with the “18s, the 21s and the younger age groups” at the Chelsea Academy after working as assistant to Dean Smith at Aston Villa and Leicester City.

“I am still waiting for a full-time job. I love my role at Chelsea. I am just waiting for the right job to come along. If that comes along, I will look into it and take it.

John Terry, who was part of a recent Padel event, wants the Argentine to remain as boss
(Image: Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

"I have done all my badges and I am ready to go. It is just about being patient and choosing the right owner, the right football club and the right people to go in with. I am very open minded about where I go. I miss it madly. It still burns a little fire in the belly. I want to manage. Fingers cross.”

Terry is keeping fit by playing Padel “two or three times a week” and took part in the celebrity pro-am Padel Aid to raise money for UNICEF this week.

“Padel Aid is very similar to Soccer Aid which is coming up in June at Stamford Bridge which I have played in for a couple of years,” he said. “This was the first one and we are hoping we can grow it and make it bigger and better.”

Padel Aid co-founder Sarah Horrocks said: “The energy from the celebrities, GB players and pros made it such a fantastic experience. We have raised an amazing amount of money for UNICEF.”

Fans can still bid for prizes on the silent auction at http://Padelaid.org.