CHELSEA captain John Terry admits he was an emotional wreck as he bid farewell to Stamford Bridge this afternoon.
The Blues skipper made his last-ever appearance at the west London arena in the 5-1 win over Sunderland.
And speaking to Sky Sports, Terry admitted he could not hold back the tears while addressing his adoring crowd, adding that he was stepping aside to allow younger players to develop.
Terry said: “In the build-up, I thought I would be OK on the day. But today I’ve just melted and broken down! I’ve been here 22 years and the club means everything to me.
“The manager has been brilliant for me. Thank you will never be enough. The fans have supported me through thick and thin, the good times and the bad.
“They have always sung my name and pushed me on. The boys will know when you get that support as a player, it means everything. It pulls you through and digs you out of a hole.
“I’m going to see what happens next. I’ll have a few weeks off, myself and the family deserve that. I’ll get away and relax before I decide anything.
“Every ex-player I speak to tells me to play as long as you and treasure every minute. That’s why I’m leaving Chelsea.”
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“I want to play for another year or two and not stand in the way of Nathan Ake, Kurt Zouma and Nathaniel Chalobah. It’s now their time to shine. I hope they go on to have the success I had.
“The club have to keep the players they have now and build with the Champions League coming next season. We need to strengthen in the transfer window, which I’m sure the owner will do. I’ll be surprised if there are not five or six big players coming next season.
“There are some big characters here. Gary Cahill has stepped up this year and taken the armband. David Luiz is great as well, he’s matured since coming back. Cesc Fabregas is a big character as well, so I’m looking at those three to really push the dressing room on.”
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