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AVB: No talks of Terry case before QPR clash

Comment: 0 January 20th, 2012 by: admin

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has ordered all talks about John Terry’s court case banned before the FA Cup match against Queens Park Rangers next weekend.

The clash will put Terry head-to-head with Anton Ferdinand for the first time since the fateful October match where the Blues captain was accused of racially abusing the QPR defender.  It is also scheduled a mere four days before the scheduled court proceedings where Terry is expected to attend.

Reports state that security at Loftus Road, where the October match also took place,  has been increased especially for what is expected to be a tense and aggressive match.

“What are you going to do to make that environment a bit better, in terms of headlines and how much time we’re going to see taken up with Anton v Terry,” said Villas-Boas.

“If you want to finish, avoid speculating about it, about the return to QPR, a repetition of the images.

“We can play our part, but so can the media,” he added.  “It’s important to kick any discrimination out of the game, but it won’t be a reminder of those incidents.

“It’ll be an intense cup game between two London teams, and hopefully it will be well contested between 22 players.”

The Chelsea manager also brushed off speaking about the possible crowd reaction as the two teams collide on 28 January.

“I don’t want to speak about that,” was AVB’s statement.  “For me, it’s a cup clash at a place we lost points, where we played brilliantly with nine men.

“Hopefully, we can go there and, if we do the same with 11 men with the same commitment, we’ll try and get through the tie.”

The Portuguese manager also showed no hesitation fielding Terry despite the tense situation, although he would have to prove himself to be part of the ideal lineup for the clash.

“I’ll have no problem picking John, not at all,” assured AVB.  “He’ll have to compete against three others, but we’ll make the right decision.”

AVB’s offhand attitude was not met by QPR Mark Hughes who, although only briefly, addressed the possibly anxious situation that Ferdinand might find himself as the match begins.

“It will be different for Anton because he is the one involved in it,” Hughes admitted.  “But, hopefully, he will have his head on his game and perform well.”

Hughes admitted that the incident seemed to have had an effect on the Defender, but the manager said that Ferdinand is now in the right shape and condition to give a spectacular performance.

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