• Premier League

Terry: I cried after Chelsea's title collapse

John Terry admits he was left in tears after Chelsea's Premier League title challenge fell apart last season.

Chelsea looked like they might secure their first title since 2010 after going top with a 4-0 win at home to Tottenham in March, only to drop points in their final nine games to relegation candidates Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Norwich.

Such wastefulness allowed Manchester City and Liverpool to capitalise, with City eventually going on to finish top of the table and Chelsea having to settle for third place.

John Terry broke down in tears after missing a penalty in Chelsea's Champions League final shootout defeat to Manchester United © PA Photos

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"I was in tears over the Premier League last year, over throwing that away and not winning it," Terry told the Guardian. "That's what I play for week-in, week-out. I'm never scared to show my emotions.

"I just want to win trophies, that's what I'm born to do, it's in me from when I was a kid. I just want to win games, whether that's in the Premier League or the Champions League."

Terry also famously broke down in tears after missing what would have been the winning penalty in the 2008 Champions League final defeat to Manchester United.

He has since suffered more heartache in the competition, missing the final through suspension when Chelsea won it in 2012.

However, having racked up his 100th Champions League appearance in Tuesday's 1-0 victory at Sporting Lisbon, Terry is hopeful the club can mount another challenge this season.

"For me the most important thing is not just the 100 appearances but to strive to go on and win it again for the club," he said. "On a personal note I'm delighted to reach that many games, it's a great achievement, I think only 28 players have done it. So to stay in a great side for that long and to play that many games is an honour.

"I hope this team is good enough to win it again. That's obviously the target, the mentality of where we are as a club, and it has been for the last 10 years or so since the owner came in. With Jose Mourinho back in now, that's our target and that's the standard."

John Terry missed the 2012 Champions League final through suspension © Getty Images

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Terry feels he received unfair criticism after the 2012 final victory over Bayern Munich when he was mocked for celebrating with his team-mates in his full kit despite being suspended.

He added: "I'm still driven on by missing the final two years ago. The biggest night ever for the club, and I didn't play in it. But I played in one [in Moscow] and I felt a massive part of it, and the players made me feel a huge part of Munich.

"Along the way you look back at games, like the Napoli game [in the 2012 last-16 tie] and others where you played a big part as well. But, because it's me, people look and say: 'He's not won it.' People like to have their digs and their pops, but I know I played a huge part, in the dressing room and on the field as well, so I count myself to have won it. No one speaks about the other 10 players who weren't on the pitch that night in Munich as well. Maybe that's me and that's where I am at as a player."

Terry feels Chelsea are in good shape this season following the summer captures of Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas, while he has also been impressed with Nemanja Matic who re-signed for the club in January.

"Those three signings are quality, all unbelievable players but big characters as well, on and off the pitch. What I call real men, and players with great experience as well," he said.

"Matic had to come to Portugal [with Benfica] and gain experience, but came back to Chelsea a completely different player and a man now. He was superb again against Sporting. Cesc has been in England before so he knew what to expect, and you expect him to hit the ground running, which he's done.

"With Diego we didn't know. We've seen it before - some strikers take months and months. But he's hit the ground running. Eight goals already is superb and it's great for us. He's a good character, a great character. Without speaking a word of English he gets by and gets on great with everyone.

"He puts himself about but gets up and battles on, and plays with little niggles. That's what you want. That's why he's come to the Premier League: to win. He made that clear to everyone in pre-season. He's come here to win trophies. That's what he wants to do."

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