Pleasure vs pain
BITTER-SWEET: DAY FOR BLUES AS TERRY BIDS FAREWELL Arsenal miss out on Champions League for first time in 20 years.
Stamford Bridge erupted in celebration yesterday as departing Chelsea captain John Terry lifted the Premier League trophy in Antonio Conte’s record-breaking first season in charge, but the carnival atmosphere had a bitter-sweet edge.
Terry, 22 years at the club and 13 as captain, started the final league game of the season and wept as fans sang his name after unfurling banners describing him as “captain, leader, legend”.
In a piece of sentimental theatre, Conte substituted Terry with his successor as captain Gary Cahill in the 26th minute – his shirt number – of the 5-1 win over Sunderland and the emotional 36-year-old hugged team-mates who formed a guard of honour as he left the pitch to a standing ova- tion. The visibly emotional former England captain thanked owner Roman Abramovich, the supporters, his wife and children as well as staff and players in an address at the end of the game.
He said Sunday was “one of the most difficult days of my life”.
It was Chelsea’s fifth title since Abramovich bought the club in 2003. During that time the club have also won four FA Cups.
Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, admitted uncertainty over his future as Arsenal manager played a role in the club’s failure to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.
Arsenal concluded the Premier League season with a 3-1 home win over Everton, but Liverpool’s 3-0 victory against Middlesbrough condemned them to a fifth-place finish.
Wenger has refused to say whether he intends to stay on beyond the end of the season, which has angered some fans, and he conceded it had created an unhelpful atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium.
“It is annoying (to miss out on the Champions League), but we had a spell during the season that was difficult and it was difficult for me in my personal situation,” he said. “We were playing in a hostile environment. The players came back stronger in the last two months and I’m very proud of them for doing that.”
Elsewhere, Harry Kane helped himself to a second hat-trick in four days as ruthless Tottenham Hotspur smashed relegated Hull City 7-1 to end the season in style.
England striker Kane finishes with 29 league goals, winning the Golden Boot ahead of Everton’s Romelu Lukaku and Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez.
Manchester City made sure of third place when they romped to a 5-0 win at Watford.
“I am so happy, we go direct to Europe,” said manager Pep Guardiola. “Congratulations to Chelsea and to Tottenham, we are so glad to be third. (We are) not a club with history of playing in Europe like United or Arsenal. But now we are there five or six years and now we can try to close the gap on the elite.”