A fierce debate erupted on talkSPORT's Friday morning programme when Jamie O'Hara declared that Tottenham were historically a larger club than Chelsea on the global stage.
The former Spurs midfielder's comments came just hours before Saturday's London derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 5:30pm.
O'Hara argued that Chelsea's prominence only emerged following Roman Abramovich's 2003 takeover, claiming the Blues had "bought the league" through heavy investment.
"Spurs globally are bigger than Chelsea, they are. We've got a rich history," O'Hara stated during the broadcast alongside co-host Gabby Agbonlahor.
Jamie O'Hara insisted Tottenham are a bigger club than Chelsea
|TALKSPORT
His provocative remarks prompted an immediate reaction from Chelsea legend John Terry, who contacted the show to challenge the assertion.
The former England defender sent a scathing voice message to the studio, ridiculing the suggestion that Tottenham possessed any global significance.
"What on earth is he on about this morning, O'Hara?" Terry responded. "Even using those two words together, Spurs and globally, should never be in the same sentence ever, ever again."
Terry delivered a cutting joke about visiting Tottenham's stadium before the match.
"I've been invited to the game by Tottenham at the weekend. So it's a 5.30 kick-off. They've asked me to get there at 5.29 and they said they'll take me round the trophy cabinet and they'll have me in my seat by kick-off," he quipped.
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John Terry rang up talkSPORT to hit back at Jamie O'Hara's claim
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O'Hara remained undeterred by Terry's mockery, maintaining his stance whilst acknowledging the Chelsea legend's achievements.
"Listen, JT, he played in the era when they were big, had Roman Abramovich and he was unbelievable. But before then, they were nowhere near as big as Tottenham, they weren't!" O'Hara insisted.
Historical data appears to support aspects of O'Hara's argument. Prior to Abramovich's June 2003 acquisition, Tottenham had secured 16 elite-level honours compared to Chelsea's 10.
John Terry captained Chelsea to five Premier League titles
|PA
The all-time points tally reveals remarkably close margins, with Chelsea accumulating 5,431 points to Tottenham's 5,423 across their histories.
However, before 2003, Spurs had amassed 4,021 points against Chelsea's 3,768, suggesting they held a superior position before the Russian billionaire's investment transformed the Blues.
The trophy disparity has widened dramatically since Abramovich's arrival, with Chelsea capturing 15 honours during Tottenham's barren spell that lasted until May's Europa League victory.
Chelsea's collection now stands at 34 major trophies, including six league titles and two Champions League triumphs, whilst Tottenham's tally remains at 25.
Terry's playing record against Spurs further underscored Chelsea's dominance, winning 17 of 32 encounters and losing just six times during his 717-appearance career.
🏆 Jamie O'Hara: "Chelsea bought the league!"
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) October 31, 2025
❌ John Terry: "Absolutely ridiculous!"
John Terry hits back at Jamie O'Hara after his 'Spurs are bigger than Chelsea' howler 🔥
📺 Watch the full video: https://t.co/m6j7j1HF8U#CFC #ChelseaFC #Spurs #THFC #JohnTerry #talkSPORT pic.twitter.com/i0JMcp2H2P
The rivalry extends beyond statistics, with Terry recently admitting his enduring animosity towards Tottenham.
"I hate Spurs and Spurs hate me. It's really simple. It's pure hate," he stated during a separate talkSPORT appearance.