Former England and Manchester City star Wayne Bridge has revealed his pain over the Three Lions’ Euro 2020 defeat because he really HATES Italy boss Roberto Mancini
- Wayne Bridge joined Manchester City from Chelsea in 2009
- A few months later Roberto Mancini succeeded Mark Hughes as City boss
- Bridge fell out of favour with the Italian and eventually left to join Reading
- The 40-year-old found it hard to watch Mancini’s Italy win the Euro 2020 final
Former England and Manchester City defender Wayne Bridge has revealed the Three Lions’ Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy left a sour taste – because he hates Roberto Mancini.
The 40-year-old joined the Blues from Chelsea in 2009 just a few months before the now Azzurri boss succeeded Mark Hughes as manager at the Etihad.
After a season as the regular left back, Bridge fell down the pecking order and was then sent out on loan to West Ham, Sunderland and Brighton before he eventually joined Reading in 2013.
Former Manchester City star Wayne Bridge has lifted the lid on his feud with Roberto Mancini
Bridge was frozen out by Mancini when the Italian took charge at the Etihad in 2009
And Bridge, who won 36 caps for England, admitted he found it hard watching Mancini celebrate as Italy were crowned European champions after beating England in a penalty shootout at Wembley.
Bridge told bettingexpert’s The Big Stage: ‘It really hurt me because I hate Mancini, everyone knows I have no love for him.
‘I wouldn’t say he’s the worst I’ve had, but tactically he isn’t that great. What he did was good, which hurts to stay.
Bridge found it hard to watch Mancini celebrate as Italy were crowned European champions
‘Not only was my family cheering for England, they were cheering that Mancini was losing, so it hurt us even more. I never really got him as a manager.
‘All credit to what he did at Manchester City when winning the league, so City fans will love him, but if you look at the players and the squad that he had, that’s what won it, not him as a manager.’
Bridge added: ‘I fell out with him. I was there for a few months and we got on well but I didn’t enjoy training at all.
The 40-year-old at home with his wife and former Saturdays singer Frankie
‘We did team shape against mannequins and as a full back we’re told ‘you’re going to pass it to him or to him, if you pass it there then run that way, if you pass it to him go that way,’ you’d have two options and that was it and playing against mannequins isn’t football.
‘[Craig] Bellamy was trying to ask a question ‘what happens if this happens in a game’, and Mancini would say ‘shut up, be quiet’ and in the end he sent him home and he wouldn’t have him back at training.
‘As a manager, I really don’t get it.’