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LONDON -- John Terry has said that he "couldn't care less" about the controversy surrounding his Stamford Bridge send-off from Chelsea in the 5-1 victory over Sunderland. Terry started the game and was subbed off in the 26th minute -- his shirt number -- then received a sustained ovation from supporters and a guard of honour from his teammates. The plan to do that was conceived before the game, with Sunderland boss David Moyes given advance notice and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford kicking the ball out under instruction from Chelsea striker Diego Costa at the specified time. Although the situation could have been interpreted as spot-fixing, both the Football Association and the Premier League did not mind -- although one bookmaker did pay out to three people who bet Terry would be subbed off in the 26th minute. "I couldn't care less," Terry said on Wednesday after training. "Really. I couldn't care less. All I care about is celebrating with my Chelsea fans. Me and them have an unbelievable rapport -- and we have for 22 years. No one -- whatever you write, or what someone says, or someone's opinion -- can ever get in the way of that. "If that's the way I wanted to go out, that's the way I go out. I've been 22 years here and won so many trophies, if I wanted to play one minute and come off, I would have done it. I wanted to play 26 minutes and come off because it meant a lot to me, the shirt number and the supporters, and so as long as they're happy, I'm over the moon with the reception I got and honestly, I couldn't care less." Terry, who is out of contract this summer, insists he has not yet made a decision as to whether he will continue his career elsewhere. West Bromwich Albion and Swansea City are among the clubs who have already been linked to the defender, who said he would only continue playing because he does not want to have regrets that he gave up too early. "I don't want to kind of make a knee-jerk decision and then kind of regret it later," Terry said. "I love playing football and it's all I've ever known, to be honest. While I still can play and physically, I know I can -- I know I only played two months this year, but maybe that will serve me well if I do continue next year. "Physically, I know I can. When you're 38, 39, 40, you know your body can't really do it at the top, so while I can still do it -- and I feel like I can do it at the top -- I think it's important that I do give it a go. But, who knows." Terry could lift his 16th club trophy on Sunday when Chelsea meet Arsenal in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium. Though Chelsea, as Premier League champions, are considered the favourites to win the double, Terry cautioned against that thinking. "Anything can happen," he said. "I think as long as we're prepared mentally and we're up for the game, we've got a good shot."
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