08 January,2009 08:26 AM IST | | PA Sport
Chelsea captain John Terry insists the club will miss departed left-back Wayne Bridge.
Bridge left the Blues last weekend in a u00a310 million move to Manchester City, leaving Chelsea struggling for left-sided players.
His first-team appearances were restricted by the form of Ashley Cole but Terry, who has been close to Bridge since he arrived from Southampton in the summer of 2003, has voiced his disappointment at the full-back's exit.
"He'll be missed and I'm still in shock a little bit because it's a shame to see one of the lads go, who you have grown up with and been with a long time," said Terry.
"I'm disappointed but for him it was the right decision. We understand he's been here and tried to break in to become a first-team regular but with him and Ash being the two best left-backs around by far, it was difficult for him to break through and get as many games as he liked.
"I think he felt at 28 he had come to an age where he needed to play week in, week out, and he will definitely get that at Man City and show people he is right up there, as I said, with Ash.
"Once Bridgey starts playing people will realise how good he is. He was great to have around the place. A great professional too, coming in at eight some mornings to do an hour on the bike when he wasn't playing just to keep his fitness there so when he was called upon he did well.
"The thing with Bridgey is he could play left-back or left midfield. He is a great crosser of the ball and gets up and down, so we will miss him."
Bridge's departure only adds to the frustration of Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, who says he cannot partner Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba together in attack as he does not have a left-sided player.
Scolari feels that to play a 4-4-2 system, he needs a genuine left winger but with Florent Malouda injured his options are limited.
