John Terry has opened up about that infamous penalty miss.placeholder image
John Terry has opened up about that infamous penalty miss. | AFP via Getty Images
Manchester United won the Champions League in 2008 thanks to a John Terry penalty miss.
Chelsea legend John Terry has opened up on the one moment from his career at Stamford Bridge that still haunts him to this day.
The centre-back made 717 appearances for the Blues over an illustrious 19 years with the first team, having graduated from the youth academy. Terry won five Premier League titles with Chelsea, as well as the Champions League in 2012 and the Europa League in 2013.
While Terry has plenty of European success to remember from his time with Chelsea, there is one particular Champions League moment which he still struggles to shake off.
Chelsea legend John Terry reflects on 2008 Champions League miss
In the 2008 Champions League final, Terry had the chance to win a penalty shootout against Premier League rivals Manchester United but slipped on his run up, fluffing the crucial spot kick and handing the win to the Red Devils.
The defender was seen in tears on the pitch in Moscow and has admitted it’s still a moment that weighs heavy on his shoulders today. Speaking to the Reece Meanie podcast, Terry was asked about any lows in his career and said: “Yeah, a couple of times in my career. Ray Wilkins was probably the best for that I'd say, who was assistant manager to Carlo, that was 2008, the penalty I missed, the penalty against Man United in Moscow. You find out very quickly who your friends are and who the people really care and look out for you are.
“Ray was the first one on the phone after that game and making sure I was okay, and a few other people. It's those moments that really make you realise that friends in football are few and far between. But the real ones at the difficult moments do stand out.”
Terry: Manchester United miss ‘really gets me’
The 45-year-old, who has worked in coaching capacities at Aston Villa, Leicester City and Chelsea since retirement, went on to admit that the error feels worse for him 17 years on.
He said: “Yeah and still today. I think I'm worse today. At the time, three or four days later, we went and met up with England so now we're sitting across the dining table with the Man United players, which was the worst thing ever anyway! But then we played America at Wembley and I ended up scoring, I scored a header from outside the box, and just after that I was like, ‘why couldn't I just swap that moment for that?’
“Still even now today, it goes over in my head. It has softened over the years for sure but I think when you're playing and you're churning out game after game, season after season, you compartmentalise it a little bit and put it right to the back.
“But it's now that I'm retired, I've not got that focus of playing every week or playing in front of the supporters and having that buzz, that it really gets me. I still wake up middle of the night and go oh yeah it did happen, and I don't think that I'll ever let it go.”
In other news, Chelsea 'in direct contact' for £22m Premier League midfielder as they aim to beat Man Utd to transfer deal.
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