Ron Atkinson: This Aston Villa player could be the best in the league
By Harvey Byrne
Former manager Ron Atkinson believes veteran Aston Villa centre-back John Terry could be the best player in the Championship next season.
The 36-year-old made the switch to Villa Park earlier in the summer after his contract expired at Premier League giants Chelsea following 22 years at the club.
During that time he won five Premier League titles, five FA Cups, three League Cups and the Europa League and Champions League trophies.
Now, Atkinson has claimed that Terry can prove a huge success in the Championship, but has also warned that it “might get a bit frantic” for the former England captain.
“John Terry will be the catalyst for Villa,” told Atkinson, as quoted by the Express and Star.
“He will either be the best player in the league or it might get a bit frantic.
“I watch a lot of Championship football. It’s a good league. Very often you see better games than in the Premier League.
“Teams in that league will be bombing up. The Premier League is a bit more patterned.
“He might find people are running in behind him an awful lot. He will have to see how he gets on with that. He will certainly command respect among his team-mates.”
Terry’s career to date is up there with the best to have played the game and he will be hoping to continue the success with Aston Villa.
The Midlands giants will have automatic promotion as their target for the new season after finishing in a lowly 13th place in the last campaign.
Experienced boss Steve Bruce has also added veteran Chris Samba to his defence this summer and he will be looking for both him and Terry to form a formidable partnership at the back.
Aston Villa will kick off the new season at home against Hull on Saturday evening.
In other Aston Villa news, this Villa 30-year-old wants move to promotion rivals.
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