John Terry has shared his discontent with the current state of elite football, claiming he no longer enjoys the modern game and its tactics.
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Terry says football is 'boring' nowChelsea legend talked up Baller LeagueLast month 44-year-old said he wanted managerial roleFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Terry used an appearance on talkSPORT to lambast the current state of the game. He lamented the possession-based tactics of dominant teams like Manchester City, which in turn incentivise lesser teams to sit deep in response.
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He also talked up the innovations put forward by the nascent Baller League. The influencer-heavy indoor product is attempting to carve out a niche with the younger generations of fans, and has implemented rules that designed to add excitement to the game. Terry was a manager in the first iteration of the tournament in the UK. His '26ers' finished in ninth place, winning three of their 11 games.
WHAT TERRY SAID
Terry told talkSPORT: "I don't sit there and enjoy watching football anymore.
"The guys who started Baller League, the guy called Felix he's got backers from Germany and across the world, they were fed up of seeing tactical games.
"Like where teams play against Man City and you get 11 men behind the ball, it's boring. Man City try and break the other team down, it's really boring.
"You don't see many shots you don't see people like Eden Hazard or Joe Cole getting people off their seats."
On the rules implemented by Baller League: "They started Baller League (with rules) like when you cross the halfway line you have to go forward you can't go backwards.
"The generation of kids they love seeing it. I think that (the viewing figures) will grow again, but it's getting to the point where people are fed up with football."
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR TERRY?
How the former England captain can square these comments with prospective employers will be interesting. Just last month, Terry shared he still harbours dreams of becoming a manager. You would assume an interest in the top level of the game would be a pre-requisite for those ambitions.