• Premier League

AVB: Terry a huge loss for England

ESPN staff
September 27, 2012
John Terry retired from international football over the weekend © PA Photos
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Andre Villas-Boas looks to continue his recent progress when Spurs visit Manchester United on Saturday, live on ESPN. Click here to subscribe

Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas believes John Terry's retirement from international football is a "massive loss" for England which has left national team boss Roy Hodgson in a weakened position as he plots a path to the 2014 World Cup finals.

Villas-Boas was Terry's manager on the day of his infamous clash with QPR's Anton Ferdinand last October and the coach, now in charge at Spurs, was giving his Thursday press briefing just as news of his former captain's four-match ban for racism was being announced.

While Villas-Boas would not be drawn on the implications of Terry's suspension while the television cameras were turned on, he was fulsome in his praise of Terry's qualities as a player and suggested he would be missed as England look to the future.

"JT's retirement is a massive, massive loss for England," stated Villas-Boas. "Terry is a player of unbelievable talent and he has done so much for his country and for Chelsea too. In the end, the decision he has made is personal, but from the perspective of the England squad and qualification for the World Cup, it leaves Hodgson in a difficult position looking towards qualification.

"I am not questioning the quality of the players he has at his disposal, but he has lost a player of great, great talent."

Meanwhile, Villas-Boas believes Manchester United sent out an ominous statement of intent when they added Robin van Persie to their squad over the summer.

"When you can afford to buy one of the best strikers in the Premier League and further strengthen a squad that is already so good, it sends a strong signal to everybody," Villas-Boas said.

"A United team that can call upon van Persie, Chicharito, Danny Welbeck and Wayne Rooney will make it difficult for any opponent. It shows an intent from them to play with two strikers up front in the future and it is a massive attacking option that they have. United can put you into very difficult positions when players of this quality are performing well."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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