Former Chelsea player John Terry was known for his mind games both on and off the pitch. The 42-year-old played over 700 games for the Blues, captaining them more than 500 times and winning numerous titles, including the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Champions League, and Europa League. Terry was notorious for lulling his opponents into a false sense of security in the tunnel before matches, pretending to be friendly and even asking for their shirt after the game. However, once on the pitch, he would turn into a different person and clatter into them with his tackles.
In an interview with snooker legend Stephen Hendry on YouTube, Terry revealed that he would continue his mind games even while on holiday. He would go for runs on the beach so that everyone could see him and get a mental edge over his rivals and team-mates. Terry said that he would wait for all the players to arrive at holiday destinations like Portugal and Dubai before going for a run along the beach. He would then spend the rest of the holiday on the sunbed while others were running and thinking that he was in the gym every day.
Terry would also prank his rivals and team-mates into thinking that he had been to the gym at 5.30am on holiday as part of his plan to be ahead of everyone else mentally. He would sign in and out of the gym pad at 5.30am and leave his room number so that when others came down at 10 o’clock, they would see his name at 5.30am. Terry admitted that he was always trying to get an edge on people mentally, and it worked.
Terry’s tactics may seem strange to some, but they were effective in helping him become one of the most successful players in Chelsea’s history. His mind games were part of his overall strategy to win matches and titles, and he was willing to do whatever it took to achieve his goals. Terry’s dedication and commitment to the game are an inspiration to many, and his legacy at Chelsea will be remembered for years to come.