John Terry reveals Andre Villas-Boas bust-up over flying first-class

Luke Davies

The ex-Chelsea captain was less than complimentary of his former boss.

Speaking on up-front with Simon Jordan, he said: “So when AVB came in we went to Hong Kong I think and I’m sitting in economy, on a 13-hour flight. And we’ve got Josh McEachran, Nathaniel Chalobah, a couple of others, young players all in first class.

“And this was part of AVB’s going, ‘No player’s bigger than me, everyone’s the same.’ So I’m going, ‘ No, I’m not going anywhere until these young players go back in economy. And the first team players that have built the club to where we are… go back in first.

“AVB comes up, ‘What’s the problem?’

“I’m going, ‘Well, I’m not going anywhere until the young players move.’ To be fair to the young players they’re going, ‘Listen JT, it’s really uncomfortable, we’ll go back.’ And I’m going, ‘No, no, it’s not your decision. He has to own it (AVB). In the end, it spins and all first-team players fly first, and younger players go back (to) economy.

“He tried to make a statement on day one and failed instantly. Because I promise you the plane wasn’t going and if it was going it would’ve gone without Frank (Lampard), myself and Didier (Drogba.)”

The Portuguese manager arrived at Stamford Bridge in June 2011, signing a three-year deal at the club. A world record compensation fee (£13.3 million) was paid to his former club Porto. Things looked promising in west London as the Blues won their first six pre-season games under his leadership. However, his first Premier League game ended in a 0-0 draw against Stoke City.

Villa-Boas’ first defeat came at the hands of Manchester United in mid-September, ending a 39-match unbeaten run spanning across two clubs.

Results started to stutter and after a defeat at Everton in February 2012 the Londoners dropped out of the top four. On March 4 2012 the manager was relieved of his duties following defeat to West Brom.

If people think players in Football Manager are unreasonable.

This is John Terry talking about how AVB lost the dressing room at Chelsea… because they refused to go in economy. pic.twitter.com/a9O8hu6bnJ
— Out of Context Football Manager (@nocontextfm1) April 25, 2024

He was replaced by Roberto Di Matteo, who miraculously led Chelsea to UEFA Champions League glory in Munich despite finishing sixth in the Premier League. Chelsea also added another FA Cup to the cabinet that summer.