John Terry responds to Rodri strike threat with clear Club World Cup stance (original) (raw)

Manchester City are set to play at the Club World Cup next summer at the end of the Premier League season and despite the calendar garnering criticism from players, John Terry has rejected claims that stars don't care

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Chelsea legend John Terry insists players DO want to play in the Club World Cup

Chelsea legend John Terry insists players DO want to play in the Club World Cup - and says it is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

FIFA have launched a new 32 team competition to be played in the United States next summer with Chelsea and Manchester City taking part among club teams from around the world. It is being seen as the tipping point - the tournament lasts from June 15 to July 13 - in some quarters with City midfielder Rodri insisting players could take strike action because of the congested fixture list.

But ex- England captain Terry says that the biggest names do want to play in the Club World Cup because, for some, it will be a career highlight. Both City and Chelsea have been crowned world champions in the past after winning the Champions League and then playing in the previous smaller version. But it is clear that Terry thinks if something has to give then it should not be the prestige competitions.

Terry, in an interview with FIFA, said: “I’ve been asked this a couple of times. As a player, [it’s] like: ‘Do you really care about the [FIFA Club World Cup]?’ Absolutely you do.

“So, 100% as a football club, we’re going to be prepared to go there and be looking to win it. And, obviously, there’s some really top sides there as well, but from a player’s perspective, it’s been thrown, kind of my generation and the generation after me, that it doesn’t really matter.

“It does, 100% this matters. So, as a football club, we’re excited and delighted to be there, and we’re going to come and bring our best players, our best squad, and give it our best opportunity, because I think that’s what the fans want to see.

“You get one chance at these big competitions, two if you’re lucky, maybe three or four, if you’re [Cristiano] Ronaldo or [Lionel] Messi you get to do it a lot of times. But, I think for the normal player, these don’t come about very often, and I think it’s important to take these opportunities.

“So, when these opportunities are here -- This is what I’m saying, from a Chelsea perspective, it’s an opportunity to win a trophy and test yourself against the best. I think for where Chelsea are at the moment as well, it’s really a bit of good news that we would like, it’s an opportunity to win another trophy.

Rodri has suggested that players could go on strike due to the increased fixture schedule (

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“So, from our perspective, you know, I see teams from the South American countries playing really exciting football, with some real, real talent.

“So, also, it’s a shop window for those guys as well, to put themselves in the window for the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea, and many other teams playing in the Premier League and the high-level leagues across the world. So, these guys are here to showcase themselves as well, which makes it even more exciting as well.

“It was incredible for me, because you win your league, you qualify for the Champions League. You win the Champions League, you qualify for these competitions, and testing yourself against the very best is not something you do often.

“So, in my generation, we won the Champions League once. I missed out on the [UEFA] Super Cup because I was suspended. So, for me, I would’ve loved to have won it and added that to my collection. Unfortunately, I’m a little bit older now – I’ve missed out, but it’s still great to see so many top teams competing.”

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