John Terry, the legendary Chelsea defender, has opened up about his darkest moment after missing a crucial penalty in the 2008 Champions League final against Manchester United. Terry's slip during the penalty shootout remains one of the most iconic images in European football history. The former England captain's miss sent Manchester United on their way to victory, and the emotional weight of that moment still lingers with him today.
"I wasn't actually supposed to take one of the first five penalties, but Didier Drogba had been sent off," Terry recalled. "I still think about my miss to this day. Honestly - not as often as I used to, but I still wake up and it's there. I can see it".
Terry credits his teammates for helping him through the darkest moments, particularly Ray Wilkins, Chelsea's then-assistant manager. "Ray was the first one on the phone after that game, making sure I was okay," Terry said. "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".
The emotional toll of that night was immense, and Terry has since spoken about the importance of mental health support in football. "Looking back, I would have loved at that time to have spoken to someone because I remember after the game, we all went back to the hotel, and I was on the 25th floor in Moscow, and I'm just looking out the window, just going, 'Why? Why?'" he said.
Terry's honesty has sparked a conversation about mental health in sports, and his bravery in sharing his story will undoubtedly help others who may be struggling. Despite the heartbreak of 2008, Terry went on to lift the Champions League trophy with Chelsea in 2012, though he was suspended for the final.
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