Chelsea icon John Terry has expressed his utter astonishment after the club confirmed the sudden departure of manager Enzo Maresca. The news, announced on January 1, 2026, saw Maresca leave his role at Stamford Bridge by mutual consent, sending shockwaves through the football world.
Terry's Blunt Reaction to the News
Reacting in a candid video posted on TikTok, Terry did not hold back his surprise. "I'm completely shocked, I didn't see it coming," the former Blues captain stated. He revealed that the announcement had triggered a flood of phone calls from people expecting him to have insider knowledge, but he insisted he was as much in the dark as any other fan.
"I've had so many phone calls this morning after the news and everyone expects me to know what's happening," Terry explained. "I haven't got a clue what's happening, I'm not involved in the first team so I don't know." He added that from his external viewpoint, clear tension had developed between the manager and the club's ownership, leading to the drastic decision.
A Rapid Collapse in Form and Fortune
Terry pointed to a dramatic and swift decline in the team's performances as a key factor behind the shock. He contrasted the recent poor run with the positive display against Barcelona just a few weeks prior. "Rewind three or four weeks ago and we were playing so well against Barcelona," he recalled. "It was so good and fast forward four weeks and form and performances clearly haven't been good enough."
The club legend also offered a nuanced perspective on Maresca's tenure, acknowledging the manager's own inexperience at the top level. "I think like the squad, the manager is inexperienced himself," Terry noted, referencing that the Chelsea job was Maresca's first full-time role in a top-flight dugout.
Looking Ahead for Chelsea
Despite his personal disappointment, Terry emphasised that the season is far from over for the playing squad. He highlighted the significant prizes still up for grabs, urging the players to rally. "There's still loads to play for this season, Champions League, Carabao Cup, so whoever comes in has a lot to play for," he said. "As players you have to get on with it and step up and deal with it."
Terry concluded by admitting there are always unseen elements to such high-profile departures, stating, "There's certainly things behind the scenes that I don't know about. I just hear rumblings like everyone else does." The search for Maresca's permanent successor at Chelsea is now underway.
