Terry postive on European elimination

(GSM) – Chelsea captain John Terry believes the absence of English teams from the UEFA Champions League semi-finals will benefit England ahead of the World Cup finals.

There will be no representative from the Premier League in the final four of Europea’s elite club competition for the first time in seven years.

Liverpool had gone out from the group stages while Manchester United and Arsenal went out of the quarter-finals, joining Terry’s Chelsea who went out in the final 16.

However, the Blues skipper thinks the lack of European club football could prove to be a positive factor for England’s South Africa preparations.

“It’s disappointing there won’t be an English club in the final because it’s the biggest game you can play in for your club,” he said.

“But England meet up in Austria on 17th May and the Champions League final is five days later.

“Had one of our teams got to the final the squad would have had some very notable absentees for what is a big phase of our preparation.

“Now we will all be together and can get some good solid grounding in as a whole. I’m sure from that perspective Mr Capello is happy.”