Injured Chelsea captain John Terry claims he has not been fully fit for five years.
The 29-year-old England international is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a nerve problem in his right leg, and the news is a major blow to boss Carlo Ancelotti who is also without Terry’s central defensive partner Alex.
Terry has revealed he contemplated playing through the pain, but admits he is no longer willing to risk his health in the search for silverware.
He told the Daily Mail: “The last time I played fit? Maybe five years, maybe more. I can’t really remember.
“If you can take an anti-inflammatory and struggle through, you do. A lot of players would tell you that, and it happens most weeks.
“Games are not so bad because the adrenaline keeps you going, but training on a daily basis when every time you move it hurts – that is a real battle.
“The pain from this injury is the worst I’ve had. There is no way I can continue but, even on Sunday against Sunderland as the goals were going in, I was thinking: ‘If I had played one more game, could I have made a difference?’
“I know a lot of people thought I was just ducking out of England but would be back to play for Chelsea against Birmingham, but no. I’m 30 next month and I’ve got to start looking after myself.
“It’s funny – I was reading what I said about ending up in a wheelchair the other day and I thought to myself: ‘You know what mate? That’s probably not your best plan.’
“I still say if the ball is there to be won I will go for it, whether with my head or whatever, and if it means us scoring or stopping a goal I won’t think twice.
“But counting medals in a wheelchair? I’d rather play with my kids in the garden thank you very much. I hope people will appreciate that. I’d like to rethink the wheelchair idea, please.”