Source: Daily_Mail
John Terry didn't say sorry: The reason Wayne Bridge quit England
Wayne Bridge made himself unavailable for the World Cup because of John Terry's failure to apologise, leaving him convinced he could not spend any time in closeproximity to the disgraced former England captain.[LNB]Right, I'm off: Bridge leaves Manchester City training after dropping his bombshell[LNB]Bridge gave serious thought to walking away from internationalfootball from the moment news broke of Terry's affair with his recentlyestranged partner, Vanessa Perroncel.[LNB]But when Terry showedno signs of remorse in the statement he issued the day he was strippedof the England captaincy and in his conduct towards Bridge himself the Manchester City full back realised living in such close quarters tohis one-time friend and colleague for the duration of a tournament wasgoing to be impossible.[LNB]The pair did have the briefest of exchanges, abruptly ended by Bridge when he realised the identity of the caller. That did not stop Terry telling senior members of the England coaching staff that he had made contact in a vain attempt to allay their concerns and protect his position as England captain. [LNB]Bridge still agonised over the decision, his mind torn between the sense of responsibility he feels towards his country and the sheer horror of having to deal with Terry. [LNB]A shy man who has never felt comfortable with the celebrity status many millionaire footballers enjoy, he also struggled with the idea of being at the centre of so much media attention.[LNB]On Thursday, Fabio Capello tried to persuade Bridge to remain an England footballer at a time when a serious injury to Ashley Cole, and concerns over the fitness and form of Rio Ferdinand, Terry and Glen Johnson, have left the Italian facing a serious defensive crisis.[LNB]The statementsWayne Bridge[LNB]'I have thought long and hard about my position in the England teamin the light of the reporting and events over the last few weeks. Ithas always been an honour to play for England. However, after carefulthought I believe my position in the squad is now untenable andpotentially divisive. [LNB]'Sadly, therefore, for the sake of the team and in order to avoid what will be inevitable distractions,I have decided not to put myself forward for selection. I have todayinformed the management of this decision. I wish the team all the verybest in South Africa.' [LNB]Fabio Capello[LNB]'I was flying back from Milan when Wayne Bridge announced that he would not stay with us for the Egypt match next week and also in South Africa for the World Cup. [LNB]'Itsurprised me but I respect the decision of all the players. But thedoor is always open for him. We have time. There are still three monthsuntil I decide my final squad for South Africa. I hope Wayne Bridgewill be with us at the World Cup.' [LNB]If Cole fails to recover in time for the World Cup, Capello regards Everton's LeightonBaines or Aston Villa's Stephen Warnock as the only serious options at left back, although he may yet consider the versatile James Milner as an option. [LNB]Bridge has been in regular contact with Capello's assistant Franco Baldini, the manwho liaises with the players on the England manager's behalf. Baldini did everything he could to assure Bridge that he still had a future with England. [LNB]In a long conversation he told the player that the management were extremely sympathetic to his situation and offered him their full support. [LNB]'No one can feel how Wayne feels at the moment,' said a source close to the Capellocamp. 'He was told it would be silly to give up an opportunity to play in the World Cup but obviously he has changed his mind a lot in the last three or four weeks. He has been thinking about it every day. [LNB]'He just cannot carry on with the scandal, so he has decided to give it up. He was told how much we care about him. He's a really nice guy. He was told how disappointed we are with this decision.[LNB]'But we wish him all the best, and he knows the door is always open even though this is apparently his final decision. You know how many left backs we have fit and available? Baines and Warnock that's it.'[LNB]Last night Capello said he hoped Bridge would have a change of heart. 'I was flyingback from Milan when Wayne Bridge announced that he would not stay with us for theEgypt match next week and also in South Africa for the World Cup,' he said.[LNB]'Itsurprised me but I respect the decision of all the players. But thedoor is always open for him. We have time. There are still three monthsuntil I decide my final squad for South Africa. I hope Wayne Bridgewill be with us at the World Cup.'[LNB] Unrepentant: Terry has refused to apologise to Bridge[LNB]In fairness to Bridge, a factor in his decision was putting the welfare of the England squad ahead of any personal ambition. [LNB]He knew how much unwanted attention his inclusion would attract and he could not be certain his presence alongside Terry would not prove divisive.[LNB]VIDEO: Bridge quits England...In a statement issued through his lawyers yesterday, Bridge said: 'Ihave thought long and hard about my position in the England team in thelight of the reporting and events over the last few weeks. It hasalways been an honour to play for England. However, after carefulthought I believe my position in the squad is now untenable andpotentially divisive.[LNB]'Sadly, therefore, for the sake of the team and in order to avoid what will be inevitabledistractions,I have decided not to put myself forward for selection. I have todayinformed the management of this decision. I wish the team all the verybest in South Africa.' [LNB] So many questions: Capello has decisions to make[LNB]Even this week, Bridge was left distinctly unimpressed by an interview Terry gave to anational newspaper. Again there was no remorse. Just the self-obsessed nonsense of someone with no sense of responsibility. [LNB]'I want to the win the World Cup and the Champions League and I'm not ashamed to say it,' Terry declared. [LNB]'I'm playing my heart out,' he then went on, even if the evidence at the San Siro onWednesday night would suggest otherwise. 'I'm responding (to a situation of his own making) by doing what I've always done; by looking straight ahead. I've got broadshoulders and nothing is going to knock me off my stride.'[LNB]As someone who knows Terry said after he emerged from that brief encounter with Capello at Wembley: 'Remorse? John thinks it's a detective John Thaw used to play on TV.'[LNB]PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor said his union had tried to resolve the situation. [LNB]'The PFA offered to help and contacted both parties with a view to acting as mediators,' said Taylor. 'But neither came back to us. I am surprised and saddened that this matter could not be resolved.' [LNB] Bridge still intends to line up against Terry when Manchester City meet Chelsea atStamford Bridge on Saturday, a game Capello plans to attend. [LNB]But Bridge's absence from next week's friendly at Wembley adds to the problems Capello must contend with a mere three-and-a-half months before the World Cup begins. [LNB]England qualified in style but they have been seriously knocked out of their stride by the injuries to Ferdinand, Cole and Johnson, as well as the loss of form suffered by Terry recently amid concerns about his fitness. [LNB]Ferdinand would have been named captain next week and Capello still wants him toreport to the team hotel in Hertfordshire for the meeting the manager intends to havewith his players.[LNB]After the recent scandals concerning Terry and Cole, Capello will remind them of their responsibilities. [LNB]Yesterday Sir Alex Ferguson said he did not object to Ferdinand travelling to Hertfordshire despite the need for treatment on his chronic back condition.[LNB] England boss Fabio Capello hopes to persuade Wayne Bridge to join World Cup squadBridge calls time on England as full-back fears 'divisive' Terry reunionAston Villa star Warnock ready to answer England's left-back SOSKop that! Liverpool legend Johnston blasts 'selfish' Terry over Bridge's exit [LNB]
