By Former England and Manchester City footballer Wayne Bridge has revealed that England’s defeat to Italy in Euro 2020 hit him particularly hard due to his negative feelings towards Roberto Mancini. Bridge, who played for Manchester City when Mancini became the manager, expressed his resentment towards the Italian coach. The 42-year-old had joined Manchester City in 2009, but he found himself falling out of favour and was loaned out to several clubs before eventually leaving City for Reading in 2013.
Watching Mancini lead Italy to victory in the European Championship, Bridge admitted in an interview with betting expert The Big Stage that it was a bitter experience for him. He openly confessed his disdain for Mancini, describing him as lacking tactical prowess. While acknowledging Mancini’s success with Manchester City, Bridge attributed the achievements more to the talented players and squad than the managerial abilities of Mancini.
Ex-Man City star Wayne Bridge 'HATES' Roberto Mancini, and blasts Italy manager for tactics saying players won the title https://t.co/3xR2ot9Cww
— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) August 5, 2023
Recalling his time under Mancini’s guidance, Bridge highlighted his dissatisfaction with the training methods. He recounted instances where tactical instructions were simplified to passing between specific players, an approach he found uninspiring and far removed from real football situations. Bridge also mentioned a disagreement between Mancini and fellow player Craig Bellamy, which resulted in Bellamy being sent home from training.
Bridge’s candid remarks about his strained relationship with Mancini shed light on his perspective as a former player. While acknowledging Mancini’s success at Manchester City, Bridge’s critique of his tactical understanding and coaching methods underscores the complexities and dynamics that can exist between players and managers. The Euro 2020 defeat catalyzed for Bridge to express his longstanding dissatisfaction and animosity towards Mancini, making the loss even more difficult for him to bear.
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