Chelsea captain John Terry was foolishly sent off last night for kneeing Alexis Sanchez in the back. His troubles are only just beginning…
For John Terry, the agony starts here.
Problem 1: The big dilemma this weekend of whether he will (a) play against QPR and (b) the handshake with Anton Ferdinand and his teammates.
Problem 2: He will be forced to sit out the biggest night of his career, the Champions League Final.
Problem 3: Euro 2012. There have already been calls for him to be dropped entirely from the squad. Expect these to increase as the tournament approaches.
Problem 4: The racial abuse court case in early July- where he can expect to be on the front page of every newspaper in the country, and if found guilty- he will have that on his reputation for life.
Problem 5: If found guilty, the FA will have no option but to impose an eight-game ban on him, following the precedent set by the Luis Suarez case.
Problem 6: Will he get the Chelsea manager’s job?
OK, we’re kidding about that last one, but the previous five are enough to challenge the character of even a man who Chelsea fans consider a ‘lionheart’.
Of course he could end up the season an FA Cup winner and Champions League winner, which will be a consolation to the personal challenges he must go through.
The issue here is, these are all seemingly problems of John Terry’s own making. It’s like trouble follows him around.
Chelsea’s clash with QPR this weekend will be a stark reminder of the challenges he faces, and while he will have the backing of his own crowd, QPR manager Mark Hughes has already called on Di Matteo not to select Terry for the good of the game.
The injury to Gary Cahill, and with fitness concerns over David Luiz, means it will not be so easy for Di Matteo to simply drop Terry, he may have no option.
The handshakes will no doubt overshadow the whole affair, they were dropped the last time the clubs met in the FA Cup.
It will bring Terry back down to earth with a bump, and prepare him for what lies ahead.
QPR aside, he should enjoy the on-pitch moments while he can, especially the FA Cup Final, for once the season is over, with Euro 2012 on the horizon and his court case, he won’t get a moments peace from the media spotlight into his life.
While he may end this season as a double medal winner, he could start the next one under suspension.
Would you fancy being John Terry right now?
image: © Crystian Cruz
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