Manchester City’s Wayne Bridge slams Roberto Mancini over selection jibe

The left-back has been linked with a loan move to Arsenal, and the 31-year-old has suggested the Italian boss rarely speaks to him as he is frozen out at the club

24 Dec 2011 10:33:00

By Andrew Kennedy

More On :  Manchester City, Wayne Bridge, Roberto Mancini
Wayne Bridge,Manchester City (Getty Images )

Wayne Bridge has hit out at Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini after the Italian had suggested the 31-year-old was only remaining at Eastlands to continue picking up his wages.

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The left-back has been made aware that he was no future with the Premier League leaders, having joined the club in 2009 from Chelsea.

Bridge spent the second half of last season on loan at West Ham, and the former Southampton man has revealed that Mancini has made it clear he is not wanted at City, with the Italian hardly ever speaking to him.

"When I was at Chelsea I was playing for a team where Ashley Cole was the best in the world and I still got games," Bridge told the Independent.

"It won't happen at City. There has never been an explanation, but it's obvious they don't want me.”

Bridge has only played once this season, in September’s 2-0 League Cup victory over Birmingham City, and the player has compared his situation at the Etihad Stadium to that of Dutch defender Winston Bogarde at Chelsea, who made just nine Premier League appearances in four years at Stamford Bridge.

"Mancini doesn't really speak to me, he doesn't really speak to any of the players. The only time I've known a player isolated like this was Winston Bogarde at Chelsea. Usually you still train with the first team, even when they want you out," he said.

The Blues already face a transfer dilemma over wantaway striker Carlos Tevez, but unlike the Argentine, Bridge insists he has never behaved negatively in order to force a move.

Bridge added: "I've never caused trouble, I'm not that kind of character.

"There will be days when I'm frustrated - not depressed, but down. Training helps take my mind off the fact that I don't play.

"If I kicked up a fuss I might have got out easier."

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