John Terry fires back after being called out by James Maddison following Spurs’s Europa League triumph
Chelsea legend John Terry didn’t hold back when firing a brutal shot at Tottenham midfielder James Maddison following Spurs’ Europa League final victory over Manchester United.
Tottenham claimed a historic 1-0 win over United in Wednesday night’s final, clinching their first major trophy in 17 years. Brennan Johnson’s decisive goal just before halftime was enough to secure the long-awaited silverware and spark jubilant celebrations among the North London faithful.
However, not every member of the Spurs squad could celebrate on the pitch. While three players, including Maddison, were absent from the final clash in Bilbao—either due to injury or being left out of the squad—Maddison still made the trip to support his teammates. Despite not featuring in the match, the England international made headlines for his lighthearted jab at football pundit Roy Keane and a cheeky nod to John Terry’s infamous Champions League moment.
During a post-match interview with CBS Sports, Maddison referenced Terry’s 2012 Champions League final appearance when the Chelsea captain, suspended for the match, famously donned his full kit to lift the trophy after his team’s dramatic win over Bayern Munich.
“I did not want to do a John Terry,” Maddison joked. “I know I played a big part in getting us here and I deserve this just as much as the rest of the lads.”
Clearly embracing the banter, Maddison followed up by messaging Terry directly on Instagram. Sharing a celebratory photo of himself and goal-scorer Johnson posing with the Europa League trophy, he tagged the former Chelsea captain with the caption: “To kit. Full John Terry mode. Anything to say tonight John?”
Terry, never one to let a playful jab go unanswered, responded in typically no-nonsense fashion with a ruthless Instagram story that not only mocked Spurs’ overall Premier League performance but also reminded Maddison of his own decorated career.
“I remember my first trophy ah bless them. Get the tequila out,” Terry wrote. “Great season from you boys, you should all be proud! 16 to go…”
In a further cutting remark, the former England defender added: “After that performance I think you have a chance. You just have to live for 900 years.”
The remark referred to the fact that Spurs still lag miles behind Chelsea in terms of silverware, with Terry having lifted 17 major trophies during his time at Stamford Bridge—including five Premier League titles, five FA Cups, and the 2012 Champions League trophy, despite missing that final through suspension.
Terry’s appearance in full kit during that Champions League presentation became an iconic—and often meme-worthy—moment in football history. Maddison’s quip brought the moment back into the spotlight, but it also opened the door for the Chelsea great to remind Tottenham fans just how far their club still has to go in matching their London rivals’ success.
While Maddison’s lighthearted banter sparked laughs among fans, Terry’s savage comeback reignited the always-heated North London vs West London rivalry—and perhaps gave Spurs a little more motivation for the seasons to come.