CRUSHED John Terry broke his silence on his penalty miss
and confessed: "It will haunt me forever."
The tearful Chelsea skipper (right) made a public apology to
fans and said: "I feel I have let everyone down and that hurts me
more than anything. 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 watched it again on TV
and you can see I slipped. It's unbelievable. "It will stay with me
for the rest of my life. But I am a big man and I take
responsibility for us not winning."
With the scores locked at 1-1 after a pulsating extra-time
battle against Manchester United in Moscow, Wednesday's first
all-English Champions League final ended in one of the most
dramatic penalty shootouts in history. As Terry stepped up to take
his kick he knew if he scored the Blues would win the shootout
5-4.
But the England defender slipped, his shot hit the outside of
Edwin van der Sar's post to force the shootout into sudden death.
United keeper Van der Sar then saved Nicolas Anelka's spot-kick to
seal United's third European Cup triumph.
Speaking as he joined up with victorious Red Devils Wayne Rooney
Rio Ferdinand, Owen Hargreaves and Wes Brown at England's London
Colney training ground, Terry added: "As I walked forward to take
my spot-kick I knew the Champions League was there to be won.
"It was all down to me. But what happened next was a nightmare.
"I slipped and that night in Moscow will haunt me forever." Terry
broke down in tears and was inconsolable on the pitch. And 72 hours
after the worst night of his professional career he was still
struggling to come to terms with what happened.
And Terry was quick to make a full and frank apology to his
Stamford Bridge colleagues and all Chelsea fans. In an open letter,
the skipper added: "To all the Chelsea fans, all my team-mates, the
manager and staff. "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 had some amazing support from
fans, current and ex-players, family and friends and I need to
thank everyone for that. "I am very proud of how far we have come
this season with everything that has gone on. "Thank you for all
your support this season."