Chelsea legend John Terry has faced online debate after recounting an alleged incident where manager Jose Mourinho instructed him to deliberately receive yellow cards in three consecutive games to engineer a suspension. Terry, 45, shared the story, claiming the aim was to ensure he would miss a less significant FA Cup match and be available for a crucial Premier League fixture against Manchester United.
According to Terry's account on FC Bullard The Show, Mourinho wanted him to rest for an FA Cup tie against Walsall, advising him to get booked in the three preceding league games. Terry stated that he eventually received a booking in the 89th minute of one match after waiting to be prompted by Mourinho.
"We were playing someone at home and it was the 89th minute and he was saying to me 'f***ing get booked, get booked'," Terry recalled. He added that after successfully getting booked, Mourinho sent him to Dubai for a four-day break.
However, the anecdote has drawn skepticism from some football fans and internet sleuths who have examined match records. Critics pointed out discrepancies, suggesting Terry might be conflating different events from his career. Some noted that Terry did not receive three successive Premier League yellow cards under Mourinho, nor did Chelsea face Walsall in the FA Cup during a period where this scenario would logically fit.
One fan suggested that Terry's recollection might be inaccurate, citing instances where Terry deliberately received a fifth yellow card in the 90th minute to miss a cup tie, but under a different manager, Andre Villas-Boas in 2011. Another point of contention was Chelsea's fixture list, with the club not playing Walsall away in the FA Cup as Terry's story implies, although they did play the Saddlers in a League Cup tie in 2015, where Terry was booked.
Some supporters defended Terry, positing that years of playing and the sheer volume of matches could lead to mixed-up memories. They argued that it's understandable to forget minor details after a long career. Terry's recollections could also be influenced by a mid-season break he received from Mourinho in December 2014, alongside Eden Hazard and Willian, which was publicly stated as a rest period due to a demanding schedule ahead of a Champions League match.