John Terry following Sunday’s match with Sunderland (Getty)

John Terry has delivered a defiant message to his detractors over his 26th minute substitution in his final Premier League game for Chelsea.

The Blues captain was replaced by Gary Cahill midway through the first half in Sunday’s game against Sunderland, coming off symbolically in the same minute as his shirt number.

It enabled Chelsea fans and Terry’s team-mates to show their appreciation for the skipper. He was given a guard of honour and standing ovation at Stamford Bridge as he slowly left the field.

However it drew widespread criticism. Among them were BBC pundits Gareth Crooks, who told Terry that ‘this isn’t Hollywood’, and Martin Keown.

Terry was the centre of attention on Sunday (Getty)
Terry lifted the Premier League trophy along with Gary Cahill (Getty)
Terry acknowledges the crowd (Getty)
Terry took a couple of minutes to leave the field (Getty)

Terry though has no regrets about the pre-planned substitution, which was his idea.

‘I couldn’t care less, I promise you. I couldn’t care,’ he said.

‘All I care about is celebrating with my Chelsea fans.

‘Me and them have an unbelievable rapport and have had for 22 years and no-one, whatever you write or someone says or someone’s opinion, can ever get in the way of that.

‘So if that’s the way I wanted to go out, that’s the way I go out.

‘You know what, because I’ve been 22 years here, won so many trophies, if I wanted to play one minute and come off I would have done.

‘I wanted to play 26 minutes and come off because it, the shirt number.’

Up Next

Chelsea legend Pat Nevin believes Terry’s actions were unfairly judged.

‘It was our party and we had a great time, unfortunately others were looking in and apparently couldn’t cope with the fun we were having,’ Nevin wrote on Chelsea’s official website.

‘So what was the biggest story? Apparently JT leaving the field after 26 minutes to the applause and thanks of the fans and the appreciation of his team-mates.

Chelsea fans showed their appreciation (Getty)

‘I will not add to the nonsense other than to say that there are far more important things to get angry about these days, and I strongly believe that no other player in the game would have received such a negative and, at times, vitriolic reaction from parts of the media and beyond.

‘It seemed personal, targeted, unfair and not a reflection of the day and its emotions.’

Terry could yet play one more game for Chelsea, if he appears in this weekend’s FA Cup final.

MORE : Chelsea cancel Premier League victory parade and Arsenal rule out potential plans in light of Manchester terrorist attack

MORE : Arsene Wenger installs Chelsea as FA Cup favourites, contradicting Antonio Conte