If John Terry didn't want all of the discussion on the final day of the Premier League season to be about him, then he failed miserably as all anyone can talk about are the ridiculous scenes we saw at Stamford Bridge.
In the 26th minute, play was halted to allow the Chelsea players to form a guard of honor and clap Terry off the pitch...
John Terry (number 26) is substituted on the 26th minute. The perfect send off ? #CaptainLeaderLegend ? pic.twitter.com/crTIspYkvE
— Chelsea FC News (@Chelsea_FL) May 21, 2017
It was unprecedented, and it really pissed a lot of people off.
As details continued to emerge, it became clear that the stunt was Terry's idea which makes it all the more unbelievable. When you consider the dignity and humility with which Bayern Munich legend Phillip Lahm approached his final appearance for his boyhood club, or even Donnacha Ryan's farewell from Munster where he outright refused to be hoisted up by the players, there's no sugarcoating how attention seeking this makes someone who is a legitimate club legend look.
After taking so much stick for the full-kit Champions League celebrations despite missing the final, it's as if he's tried to top that.
Speaking after the game, Sunderland boss David Moyes confirmed that the players were aware of the stunt, and were even willing to kick the ball out of play to allow it to happen.
David Moyes: "We knew it was coming, and we agreed to put the ball out. It was Diego Costa that actually asked Jordan to kick the ball out."
— Scott Wilson (@Scottwilsonecho) May 21, 2017
That is just mad. For a relegated Sunderland side to kick the ball out of play and stand and clap John Terry off the pitch because he's leaving the club, is actually kind of sad, much like everything associated with the club right now.
Meaningless game or not, it seems absolutely ridiculous. Why not play out an actual final game at Stamford Bridge? Let him take free kicks and penalties, maybe? But to halt the game for a guard of honour...
The mind boggles.
