Sunday 8 May 2016 07:37, UK
Guus Hiddink said he is unsure if John Terry has played his last game for Chelsea after his dismissal against Sunderland.
Terry was sent off for the second time this season for two bookable offences late on as the Blues lost 3-2 at the Stadium of Light.
He will now be banned for the midweek trip to Liverpool and Sunday's visit of champions Leicester.
As a result, the 35-year-old defender, who made his debut in October 1998 and is out of contract this summer, appears to have pulled on the blue shirt for the last time after revealing in January that he would be leaving Stamford Bridge.
The club has insisted an offer may be forthcoming, with incoming head coach Antonio Conte having a major say in the final decision, but there has been no sign of one so far and current boss Guus Hiddink remains uncertain over the former England defender's future.
Asked if Terry's appearance on Wearside would be his last, Chelsea manager Hiddink said: "For the club, I don't know, but it's sad, of course, that he was sent off for a second yellow, and it's the second sending-off, which by the rules means he will suspended [for both games].
"I think the referee [Mike Jones] was too close to the incident. Normally we say, 'Referee, be close to what can happen', but I think he was too close and an impulsive reaction made him draw the yellow card.
"With a little bit more distance, 10 yards more, he could have thought, 'Hey, these two guys went intensively for the duel' - it was an intense game and he has to consider a bit the intensity of the game and this duel as well.
"He was too close, for me, and took too harsh a decision."
Terry, whose previous sending-off this season came at West Brom in August, has missed some memorable moments with Chelsea through suspension.
We don't know what his future is at this moment but for this season, it's sad because it would have been lovely to have had him in our last game at home
He was banned for the 2012 Champions League final win over Bayern Munich but joined the celebrations in his full kit, a protocol dictated by UEFA.
He has been linked with a move to China, the Middle East and Major League Soccer, but given his reluctance to face Chelsea and their absence from Europe next season, could move to another European club.
Asked if it would be a sad way for Terry to end his Chelsea career, Hiddink said: "Yes, of course.
"We don't know what his future is at this moment but for this season, it's sad because it would have been lovely to have had it in our last home game at home, the Leicester game, the champions, and have a very nice party game, let's call it that, and it's sad that he is not participating in that."
Terry cut a disconsolate figure in the away dressing room after the game with Hiddink revealing: "Of course, he was sitting and staring - when players and coaches are defeated, after a game, then everyone is sitting and staring a bit and then, of course, thinking a lot.
"I haven't talked to him so far, but you can imagine a bit the mood."
