John Terry missing final Chelsea FC game sums up 2015/16
John Terry will miss what was likely to be his final game for Chelsea FC having received a red card in the club’s 3-2 loss against Sunderland. 2015/16, everyone.
Chelsea FC proved that their season had effectively ended after the Tottenham Hotspur draw by giving up the lead twice en route to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Sunderland. John Terry was sent off during the contest, meaning that he is suspended for the club’s next two games and thus the rest of the campaign.
The club captain was shown a second yellow card for a cynical challenge on Wahbi Khazri in second half stoppage time. Given that he has already been sent off during this season, the usual one-game ban for two bookable offences is doubled.
Chelsea have two matches remaining with a showdown with Liverpool on Wednesday preceding the finale against Leicester City at Stamford Bridge. With a contract extension yet to be offered to Terry, this means that the veteran has now played his final game for the Blues.
Chelsea FC 2015/16, everyone.
This has been a disastrous campaign by all measurable standards and this latest development neatly sums up the last ten months. After winning both the Premier League and Capital One Cup, Chelsea have since toyed with relegation, sacked Jose Mourinho, been witness to a supporters’ revolt, fail to progress in cup competition and wallow in mid-table.
Terry, arguably the greatest the player the club has ever seen, revealed in January that the board had not tendered an extension to keep him beyond the summer and little has happened to indicate otherwise since.
His red card at the weekend and the fact that he is unable to see out his Stamford Bridge career with dignity in front of the home fans is simply this season in a nutshell. Frankly, why did anyone expect anything different?
It still beggars belief that the club officials are not going to afford a loyal servant an opportunity to close out his career with the only team he has played for, but there is time for the situation to change. It is thought that management have left the decision in the hands of incoming boss Antonio Conte and thus the Italian may well ask Terry to stay on once he focuses on club matters.
With the Blues lacking Champions League football, recruiting top talent is going to be difficult. This is evidenced by their apparent chase of Hull City loanee Hatem Ben Arfa. As a result, Conte needs all the help he can get and the ability to draw upon Terry’s wealth of Premier League and Chelsea experience will be invaluable.
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Nevertheless, at the moment Terry is heading for the Stamford Bridge exit in a disappointing manner. Rumours claim that he has organised a farewell event at the ground following the Leicester game but don’t be surprised if he is somehow locked out of that as well.
Chelsea FC, 2015/16.