A long-standing London football rivalry has escalated into a public spat over historical club success and the impact of significant financial investment, with former Chelsea captain John Terry directly mocking Tottenham Hotspur’s trophy cabinet ahead of their Premier League derby.
Terry, a celebrated figure at Stamford Bridge, made headlines by stating he would arrive at Tottenham’s stadium just before Saturday’s 5:30 PM kick-off to “take a walk through their trophy cabinet” before finding his seat. This pointed jibe underscored the contentious debate.
The exchange unfolded on a British radio program, where former Tottenham player Jamie O’Hara ignited the controversy. O’Hara claimed Tottenham was “much bigger” than Chelsea before Roman Abramovich’s 2003 acquisition, suggesting the Russian billionaire “basically bought the league” with his investment.
Terry swiftly retorted, calling O’Hara’s assertion “absolutely ridiculous.” He further declared that the words “Spurs” and “global” should “never again appear in the same sentence.”
🗣️ Jamie O’Hara: “Chelsea bought the league!”
🗣️ John Terry: “Absolutely ridiculous!”John Terry hits back at Jamie O’Hara after his ‘Spurs are bigger than Chelsea’ howler 👀
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— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) October 31, 2025
Statistical data supports Chelsea’s dominance in the post-Abramovich era. Before 2003, Chelsea held 15 major trophies compared to Tottenham’s 27.
Since Abramovich’s takeover, Chelsea has added 21 titles in 22 years, including a Champions League, a Club World Cup, and five Premier League championships. Tottenham, by contrast, has secured only three additional trophies in the same period.
The upcoming London derby on Saturday finds Tottenham in a stronger position this season, sitting 3rd in the Premier League with 17 points. Chelsea trails at 9th place with 14 points, adding another layer of tension to the perennial rivalry.