Chelsea legend Terry reluctant to see Premier League resume behind closed doors

John Terry admits he would not relish the prospect of finishing the Premier League season behind closed doors.

The former Chelsea and England defender, who is now assistant head coach at Aston Villa, is preparing for the Premier League to return to action in the summer as the top flight scrambles to complete the 2019-20 season to ensure they fulfil broadcasting obligations.

Villa defender Tyrone Mings admits players are desperate to perform in front of fans again and Terry echoed that position.

He said: ‘I’ve never experienced (behind-closed-doors) as a player and I just think it’d be bizarre. If it takes a little bit longer to get everyone back on their feet and get people back in the stadiums, that's what we live for in England.

‘That's why the Premier League is the best in the world, the supporters and how they feel in our country and the atmosphere in all sports just makes the event.

‘Without that it just wouldn't be the same. If that's what we have to do (play behind-closed-doors) then we'll obviously go ahead and play but it'll be strange.’

Villa are 19th in the table, albeit with a game in hand, after they were involved in the final top-flight fixture – a 4-0 defeat at Leicester – before the Covid-19 outbreak caused the top four divisions to be halted. A date for football to resume cannot be reached until it is deemed safe to compete.

‘Rumours fly about, they're looking at getting started in June to cram the games in within six weeks and have a couple of weeks off and go back after that,’ Terry added on his Instagram account. ‘I just think that whatever happens, people's health needs to come first.

‘Wimbledon have cancelled the tennis and, when we go back in a month, two months or three months, it's important just to make sure it's the right thing for everyone.’