Ron 'Chopper' Harris has scoffed at Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson's claims that the current Blues team are over the hill.
"I think he was talking out of his backside to be truthful," Harris said. "Did he say that when Chelsea beat them 2-1 in the league and came within a coat of paint of winning the Champions League?"
The 63-year-old, a cult hero for his no-nonsense defending in the 1960s and 1970s, said: "Some of the United players are getting on, like (Paul) Scholes, Giggsy (Ryan Giggs) and the goalkeeper (Edwin van der Sar). Sides that win things normally have experienced players.
"Chelsea have players around 30 like Ballack, Drogba and Lampard but not many are well into the 30s, and my old manager Tommy Docherty told me you didn't reach your peak until you are 30 years of age.
"Those players are at the top level and I'm sure they will do that for the next few years to come."
Harris added: "If you go through this supposedly ageing side, they've got a young goalkeeper, John Terry is 27, Michael Essien, John Obi Mikel and a few others that can come in."