Some moments in football history never truly fade—especially when they’re drenched in heartbreak, soaked by rain, and etched into the memory of an entire fanbase.
One of those moments? John Terry’s infamous slip during the 2008 Champions League final.
But now, nearly two decades later, we’re hearing a new perspective that sheds fresh light on what really happened behind the scenes—and it’s stirring up old emotions all over again.
A Change in the Plan That Altered Chelsea’s Fate
Former Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele has opened up about what really went down before those decisive penalty kicks in Moscow.
According to him, the shootout didn’t go exactly to plan.
Speaking on The LineUp podcast with BetMGM and talkSPORT, Makelele revealed that there was actually a pre-agreed order for the penalties—but it got changed at the last minute.
And it wasn’t the manager who made the change. It was John Terry himself.
The plan had been for Salomon Kalou to take the final spot-kick, but Terry, sensing a chance to become the hero, stepped up instead.
And we all know what happened next: a heartbreaking slip, a missed shot, and Manchester United claiming the trophy.
“He Tried to Be the Hero,” Says Makelele
Makelele didn’t hold back when recalling the atmosphere in the dressing room after the match.
“It was like fire,” he said. “There was no happiness—just sadness.”
He admitted he was furious when Terry missed, not just because it cost Chelsea the title, but because it robbed some of the younger players of what could’ve been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“I’d already won the Champions League before,” Makelele said.
“But John had the responsibility to lead. Instead, he made a choice that cost us everything.
Football punishes you when you don’t do things the right way.”
Terry Admitted It Was the Lowest Point of His Career
John Terry has never shied away from admitting how deeply the miss affected him.
In fact, he’s spoken openly about it multiple times over the years.
In an interview on the Up Front Podcast, Terry called it “probably the worst moment in my footballing career.” Even now, he admits that it still hurts.
“I’m still not over it. I don’t think I ever will be,” he said.
That night, he couldn’t even face his teammates.
While the manager encouraged everyone to gather downstairs for a post-match drink, Terry stayed in his room, replaying the moment in his head over and over again.
“Why Then? Why Did It Start Raining?”
The pain didn’t just stop in the dressing room. Terry described standing alone in his hotel room, 25 floors up, overlooking the Moscow skyline and asking himself, “Why did it start raining then? Why did I slip?”
It was a haunting moment of isolation, and it stuck with him long after.
Just days later, he played for England in a friendly against the USA and scored a rare goal from outside the box.
But even then, it didn’t feel like redemption.
“If I could swap any two goals in my career, it’d be those two,” he confessed.
A Regret That Lingers to This Day
In interviews over the years, including one with Sky shortly after the final, Terry shared how the memory follows him daily.
“Every morning I wake up, that’s the first thing I think about,” he admitted. “I am still so desperately disappointed about it.”
But he also emphasized that he had no choice but to move forward.
“I’m a big man with a big character,” he said. “Now it’s on me to deal with it.”
Looking Ahead Was the Only Way to Heal
As the new season approached after that crushing final, Terry tried to shift focus.
He looked forward to returning to the pitch and rebuilding his legacy—not just for himself, but for the club and fans.
“I’m certainly looking forward to the new season,” he said at the time.
“So I can wipe away that bitter disappointment, especially for me.”
Some Wounds Never Fully Heal
Football can be beautiful and brutal in equal measure.
For John Terry, that rainy night in Moscow remains a chapter he can’t quite close.
And now, with Makelele’s revelation about the penalty order, the story has taken on even more emotional weight.
The question remains: Was it a moment of bravery or a misstep rooted in ego? Either way, it changed Chelsea’s history—and Terry’s legacy—forever.