A Letter From Our Captain

[Axonedit]

This is why John Terry is our Captain. This is why Chelsea is the greatest football club in the world

Sat, 24th May 2008
John Terry has written an open letter to Chelsea fans following the Champions League Final.

The Chelsea captain wrote:

'To all the Chelsea fans, all my team-mates, the manager and staff at the club.

I am so sorry for missing the penalty and denying you the fans, my team-mates, family and friends the chance to become European champions.

Many people have told me I don't need to say that but I feel I need to, that's just me. I have relived that moment every minute since it happened. I have only slept a few hours and wake up every time hoping it's all been a bad dream.
I have had some amazing support from fans, current and ex-players, family and friends and I need to thank everyone for that. But I am a big man and I take responsibility for us not winning.

I am and ALWAYS will be Chelsea through and through. I will give my all on and off the pitch to win this trophy as a player and one day as a manager. And I am sure we will win it.

That night in Moscow will haunt me forever and I feel I have let everybody down and this hurts me more than anything. I am not ashamed about crying. This is a trophy I have tried so hard year after year to win and it was just an uncontrollable reaction, I wear my heart on my sleeve, everybody knows that.
The road to Rome starts here, we have to try and turn this experience to our advantage. I am very proud of how far we have come this season with everything that has gone on.

Thank you for all your support for the team this season.'

[Jason H]

I'm glad he knows we all support him.

That was awesome for him to do that, but no apologies are necessary.

As bad as we all felt when he missed the PK, I know he feels 100X worse.

For all the heart he shows, I wish I could give him a standing ovation.

[PasadenaBlues]

CAPITAN JT YOU WILL ALWAYS BE A CHAMPION.....!!!!!!! THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND TAKING THE TIME TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS!!!

WE LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY MY CAPITAN!

[kelley]

Best line in the letter:

The road to Rome starts here, we have to try and turn this experience to our advantage. I am very proud of how far we have come this season with everything that has gone on.

As we are all proud of how far we got this year with everything that has gone on. I'm sure that PK will haunt him until the day he lifts the cup or dies.

[Jensoid]

Yep agree, no apologies needed, but perhaps now the healing can begin, and he can move on.

[RaDragon]

<3 u JT!!

[ChelseaENC]

Read that yesterday. Feel so bad for him, the apology wasn't needed but hopefully it helps him move on. Thanks Terry for holding the team together this year, and being the god damn man.

[Blueshark]

That was class, you're a good man JT!

[Specter]

And would you expect Rio Ferdinand to do that?

JT FOR ENGLAND! THE ONLY TRUE CAPTAIN!

[tinaflorida]

Much respect to JT. He epitomises Chelsea!

[BLUEinLA]

The man is pure class. I am always so proud to sport his name on the back of my kit!

BTW, had a question and figured I'd post it (I know how resourceful you lot are! ). Does anyone know if there is a place on the ChelseaFC.com site where fans can send well wishes to the team? A friend asked me and I searched the site but couldn't find anything. It would be nice if we could post comments...I mean just look at the outpouring of support here!

Thanks in advance!

[theYellowjerseysSuck]

i am glad he knows that we all support him. He is a true leader. John Terry is the best leader in the PL. We will be in a lot of trouble the day JT stops wearing Blue.

[Burgerbitz]

From Pat Nevin:

In a perverse way it is maybe best that it was the skipper who missed that chance as opposed to anyone else. That sort of thing can destroy a lesser mortal, it can certainly taint an entire career, but if anyone can cope with the devastation it is Terry.

I hope John gets the chance to have another go and one thing I am pretty certain of is that he will be brave enough to step up again to take the responsibility. He is a leader, he is brave and he would be first to take the hit for a team mate less capable of stepping forward.

In the end it was an incredible night in Moscow and it was great to see so many true Chelsea fans present considering how hard it was to get there for most.

[tribalblue]

And would you expect Rio Ferdinand to do that?

JT FOR ENGLAND! THE ONLY TRUE CAPTAIN!

x 2

[Wee Pat]

From Pat Nevin:

In a perverse way it is maybe best that it was the skipper who missed that chance as opposed to anyone else. That sort of thing can destroy a lesser mortal, it can certainly taint an entire career, but if anyone can cope with the devastation it is Terry.

I hope John gets the chance to have another go and one thing I am pretty certain of is that he will be brave enough to step up again to take the responsibility. He is a leader, he is brave and he would be first to take the hit for a team mate less capable of stepping forward.

In the end it was an incredible night in Moscow and it was great to see so many true Chelsea fans present considering how hard it was to get there for most.

Well said, Wee Pat!

[dmbraley]

Im glad this was posted here, I hadn't gotten a chance to read it before and had wanted to....all I can say is John Terry should change is name to Alec Guinness so his name anagram could be: Genuine Class

[CFC Cathy]

Every Chelsea fan I have spoken to in the close season has said to me that they do not blame John Terry - they blame Drogba and Anelka - so I feel there was no need for JT to write this letter. In saying that, however, everyone knew exactly how he felt but it was one of those things and it wasn't our night and hopefully we will come back better and stronger and make sure we take the CL title in May in Rome. I think this is what he is saying.

As an aside, I saw an article in last night's Evening Standard regarding Danny Cipriani the England and Wasps Fly Half who broke and dislocated his ankle recently. He specifically wanted to thank John Terry for calling him and offering him words of support etc. and said his guidance and kind words had helped and encouraged him tremendously. All I can say is well done JT - we all love you!

[gaelcat]

I read his letter at the time and, man, I can tell you all that my heart goes out to the guy. He is what being a leader and captain is all about - and I remember back to his youthful bar-hopping rowdy days and think how far this guy has come in such a short time.
When my wife and I took a tour of the Bridge a few years back, our guide mentioned more than once how TSA was the gaffer, but Terry was the skipper on the pitch and in the locker room.
1st Class, all the way!

[chelseafan081076]

Personally, I don't blame anyone. There's no reason. Sometimes you just lose. It was genuine class for JT to come out and make an apology, even though it definitely wasn't necessary. I will never agree with the choice to have him take that penalty, but what's done is done and now it's time to go one step further this year.

JJ