John Terry has ended his career as he has spent most of it: confronting narrative and blowing it to smithereens. Back in 2008, Terry had a chance to win the Champions League, only to slip at the crucial minute in sodden Moscow. Four years later, redemption beckoned, only for it to be squandered by thrusting his knee into the back of Alexis Sanchez, leaving Terry suspended for Chelsea's sole European triumph in his time at the club.
Narrative has once again taken one hell of a beating in Terry's final season with at Stamford Bridge.
The decline of his Chelsea career has been eerily similar to Steven Gerrard's at Liverpool: the one-club man is leaving but not retiring a year after a late flicker of Premier League form: for Gerrard's run in the Liverpool midfield that almost won the league in 2014, Terry played every minute of Chelsea's triumphant season last year. Gerrard's farewell tour was chastening: dropped for big games, a red card in less than a minute against Manchester United, a heavy defeat to Crystal Palace in his final Anfield game, and an awful 6-1 loss to Stoke in his final game.
Terry's Chelsea career has ended equally ignominiously, with a red card against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. Terry picked up two yellow cards, which usually warrants a one-game ban. This is, however, increased to two games owing to a red card he picked up earlier in the season.
6 – John Terry has been sent off more times than any other Chelsea player in Premier League history (6). Sendoff.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 7, 2016
John Terry's final act in a Chelsea shirt is to be sent off. Sad way for a club legend to go out #EPL @FOXSportsNews
— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) May 7, 2016
John Terry gonna miss his last 2 games due to a suspension. A fitting tribute to the man
— Luke Kempner (@LukeKempner) May 7, 2016
That second yellow card should mean that John Terry never plays another competitive game for Chelsea.
A fitting end. #CFC #SAFC— Duncan Castles (@DuncanCastles) May 7, 2016
Hiddink says he left John Terry 'sitting and staring‘ in the #Chelsea dressing room. The captain is devastated.
— ⭐️ Chels HQ ⭐️ (@Chels_HQ) May 7, 2016
It means that Terry may have to change into a full-kit for the finale at Stamford Bridge, a bitter irony in which many were eager to bask in:
Looks like John Terry will have to sit out the final two games of his Chelsea career in full kit. #cfc
— John Brewin (@JohnBrewin_) May 7, 2016
