• Premier League

Villas-Boas: Chelsea can cope without Terry

ESPN staff
October 19, 2012
John Terry misses this weekend's clash with Tottenham © Getty Images
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Andre Villas-Boas has stood by his decision to support John Terry against initial accusations of racism by Anton Ferdinand, but claimed Chelsea can get by without their skipper.

Villas-Boas was manager of Chelsea when Terry was accused of racially abusing QPR defender Ferdinand last October. The Portuguese stood by his captain, who has since been found guilty of the charge by the FA, resulting in a four-game ban.

"This is a long story full of events," Villas-Boas said. "So many different interpretations. So many governing bodies intervening. I made my stance towards my reading of the situation. But what I did in the past I continue to support."

Terry's suspension begins this weekend, ruling him out of a meeting with Villas-Boas' new side Tottenham. And while the Spurs boss still carries much respect for Terry, he insists Chelsea have more than enough cover to soften the blow of losing their leader.

"Obviously you have to make sure to take into account that this is an extremely good player, an experienced player and Chelsea's captain," he said. "A player of this dimension always is surely missed.

"In the end, I've worked with those players in the past. And the reality was that in that precise sector we never had problems. Other centre-backs are tremendously good too.

"Gary Cahill had a solid start to his Chelsea season when we brought him in January, this season also. And David Luiz, [Branislav] Ivanovic - another option. So the amount of options is so good."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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