Interim Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink has expressed his disappointment as John Terry looks set to miss his final home game with the club after being sent off against Sunderland on Saturday.
The Blues captain, who has not extended his contract with Chelsea beyond the summer, was booked twice in the 3-2 loss to Sunderland on Saturday.
Due to it being his second red of the campaign, Terry will miss the final two games of the season and, therefore, may have played his last competitive game for the club.
Terry was dismissed late into the game at the Stadium of Light, and Hiddink felt referee Mike Jones was rash in his decision to dismiss the 35-year-old centre back.
“For the club, I don’t know, but it’s sad, of course, that he was sent off for a second yellow, and it’s the second sending-off, which by the rules means he will suspended (for both games),” Hiddink is quoted as saying by BT Sport.
“I think the referee [Mike Jones] was too close to the incident. Normally we say, ‘Referee, be close to what can happen’, but I think he was too close and an impulsive reaction made him draw the yellow card.
“With a little bit more distance, 10 yards more, he could have thought, ‘Hey, these two guys went intensively for the duel’ – it was an intense game and he has to consider a bit the intensity of the game and this duel as well. He was too close, for me, and took too harsh a decision.”
This would, of course, be a disappointing way for Terry to end his 18-year spell with Chelsea. Hiddink added that it is unfortunate for the former England international to miss the final game against Leicester City next Sunday.
“Yes, of course,” the Dutchman added. “We don’t know what his future is at this moment but for this season, it’s sad because it would have been lovely to have had in our last game at home, the Leicester game, the champions and have a very nice party game, let’s call it that, and it’s sad that he is not participating in that.”
Hiddink also revealed that Terry was devastated in the dressing room after the game but he hadn’t had the chance to talk to him: “Of course, he was sitting and staring – when players and coaches are defeated, after a game, then everyone is sitting and staring a bit and then, of course, thinking a lot. I haven’t talked to him so far, but you can imagine a bit the mood.”
Terry has struggled with injuries in recent months but has still played 24 Premier League games this term but it is not known yet where he will be moving to in the summer.
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