Chelsea’s chances of retaining their Premier League crown went down the toilet earlier this season and now John Terry has revealed the Stamford Bridge plumbing plays a bizarre role in the club’s pre-match routine.
The injured skipper, who looks certain to miss the midweek Champions League showdown with Paris Saint-Germain, has explained how the urinals in the home dressing room have become part of a strange superstition for some Blues started.
Former England defender Terry and former Chelsea stars Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole began using one of the three toilet facilities available before games, leaving the other two unoccupied, after believing it had brought them good luck.
While Cole and Lampard and now plying their trade in the United States, Terry remains at Chelsea for the rest of this season. He has continued the tradition in their absence and more fellow believers have even taken a lead out of the defender’s book.
Speaking at the London Football Awards, Terry told The Sun: “Me and Frank started it a long time ago; in the Chelsea dressing room we have three urinals and me and Lamps started weeing in one. We won the game and that was it.
"The next week there was a queue of me, Frank and Ash. The next week there were four of us and the week after there were five. Even now, up until today, you have Cesar Azpilicueta and Cesc Fabregas, we are all there in one big queue.
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“A few months ago the club secretary said to me: ‘we have had a few calls from the FA complaining because we have been going out late’ and I didn’t have the heart to tell him it was because we were all waiting to go for a wee."
Veteran Terry may have been tempted to flush the superstition as the Blues endured a nightmare start to this campaign, resulting in Jose Mourinho being sacked.
However, results have picked up since Guus Hiddink took over, although Stoke snatched a late equaliser to draw 1-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Chelsea are back in action in midweek when they face Paris Saint-Germain at home looking to overturn a 2-1 deficit in their Champions League last-16 tie.
Hiddink said of Terry’s chances of making the clash: “'I don't think John will make Wednesday. Hopefully, let's see what can be done for next weekend. He has to be careful.”
