John Terry has stressed he does not care about criticism following his 26th-minute substitution in his final Premier League game for Chelsea.
The centre-back was ridiculed by rival fans and pundits alike for arranging his own substitution against Sunderland in his Stamford Bridge farewell, coming off in the same minute as the shirt number he has worn across 717 appearances for the club.
Nevertheless, Terry is not interested in what others say and only cares about his relationship with the Chelsea supporters.
"I could not care less, I promise you," Terry told reporters.
"All I care about is celebrating with my Chelsea fans. Me and them have a wonderful rapport and have done for 22 years. Nothing that people write or say can ever get in the way of that.
"If that is the way I want to go out, that is the way I go out because I have been here 22 years, I have won so many trophies, so if I wanted to play one minute and come off, I would have done.
"I wanted to play 26 minutes because the shirt number means a lot to me and the supporters so, as long as they are happy - and I was over the moon with the reception - I promise you I could not care less."
Terry added: "It was an unbelievable send-off from the supporters to help me to celebrate 22 years at the club. I am very grateful to them, and it was something I will never forget. It was so emotional after the game, I was in bits."
