During the Champions League draw in Nyon, Switzerland, John Terry, the ex-captain of Chelsea, revealed the two most challenging opponents he encountered in his illustrious career.
The 43-year-old, known for his 19-year tenure at Stamford Bridge and 717 appearances, took part in conducting the Champions League last-16 draw on Monday morning.
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Aside from predicting Real Madrid as the potential winners of this season’s competition, the former England international fondly recalled the formidable encounters he had against Barcelona.
When asked what moment stood out from his Champions League career, Terry said: “For me personally, playing against Barcelona in 2004-05.
“In my generation, I feel that Barcelona was the best team that I ever faced and had some of the best players in the world.
“So playing against those players and testing yourself, which was very difficult at times, were great memories. On that occasion we managed to win so it leaves great memories.”
Having acknowledged before that his dismissal against Barcelona in the 2012 Champions League semi-final was his most significant regret in his Chelsea career.
John Terry, the former Blues captain, referred to two ex-Barcelona players when questioned about his most challenging opponents during Monday’s event in Switzerland.
“Two of the guys in that team were Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho,” he smiled. “Messi was on my side on the pitch unfortunately for me.
“At the end of your career, when you look back on those moments – you’re very proud. I didn’t come out on top very often but when you do it’s very pleasing. It was a privilege to play alongside those guys.”
Terry has previously named former Arsenal player Thierry Henry as his toughest Premier League opponent.
“He (Henry) was the best by far and he had everything,” he told Sky Sports in 2017. “His movement, he was like a silent assassin, wasn’t he, because he score with his head, go short, go in behind, right foot, left foot.
“He was incredible. Literally, the night before games, he would be the one player in my career that I thought, ‘Pfft, [it is] gonna be a tough day tomorrow’. And you’d wake up… and no one had that effect me at all but him.”
