John Terry tried to be a hero with his notorious Champions League Final Penalty Shoot-Out Miss, former teammate Claude Makele claims.
The leader of the ex-Chelsea hit the mail after slipping away when he took his spot kick and Manchester United handed the 2008 Champions League trophy.
But it is now claimed that Terry was never the fine intended to take in the first place.
Makelele, 52, revealed that Solomon Kalou stood in line to act instead.
And he believes that a mistake was made when Terry took the job instead, because he wanted to become a “hero”.
Speaking of the line, you were offered by Betmgm and Talksport, he said: “The dressing room after the game was like fire. There was no luck – it was a sad place to be.
“We made a big mistake for the penalties. We had an order that had been agreed with the players and the manager, but it changed at the last minute.
“It was supposed to be Solomon Kalou who took the last penalty, but John [Terry] I took the opportunity. I think we have lost this match because football is sometimes very hard and, if you don't do things in the right way, you will be punished.
“I was very angry when he missed the penalty because it was a chance that I knew that many of the young players would not get it. I had won the Champions League earlier, but at the moment John had to be the leader and do what was best for the team.
“He did not make sure we won the trophy, he tried to be a hero. If he knew this, he would have been a hero because he would have lifted the trophy.”
Best free bets and registration offers
Terry, 44, talked about how that crucial moment “broke” him.
He said: “I just remember looking at Moscow in my hotel, I was on the 25th floor, just looking out.
'Just ask:' Why? Then why? Why did it start to rain? Why am I slipping? 'All these things that pass [in your head].
“It was probably the hardest thing we met three days later in England. We had a friendly at Wembley against the US.
“I finally scored a header from outside the box and that was probably the most difficult moment.
“Because if I could exchange a goal in my career, it would be. I scored a header of 18 meters and after the game it broke me.”