‘I played for Chelsea when I was hungover… Ashley Cole was laughing at me’ – Wayne Bridge

Wayne Bridge has revealed he once played for Chelsea in a Premier League game while being hungover.

Superfit left-back Wayne Bridge slipped down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge following the arrival of Ashley Cole from Arsenal in 2006.

After Cole nailed down a starting spot, Bridge was reduced to being a bench boy which meant, on one occasion, he went drinking the night before a Premier League match.

However, it backfired spectacularly when Cole limped off injured and boss Avram Grant had to throw Bridge on in his place.

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An apologetic Bridge told the hilarious story on the latest episode of Liquid Football, which is produced by Joe.co.uk in partnership with Paddy Power.

Asked by host Kelly Cates if he’d ever played hungover, Bridge admitted: “I’ve done it once, I’ve done it once. I might save it for my book…”

The former England international was then egged on by fellow guests Carlton Cole and Steve Sidwell to open up, which he duly did.

“When Ash went to Chelsea, I was sat on the bench a lot and if I wasn’t on the bench I was sat in the stands,” Bridge explained.

A laughing SIdwell interrupted “I was with you, I remember!” before Bridge kept on telling the tale.

“Ash actually knew I’d gone out, by the way this is only the once. Ash started, I wasn’t playing and everything was perfect,” he went on.

“I could just sit there but he came off after God knows how many minutes against Sunderland and I came on. Ash was laughing at me as I came on and shook his hand coming on to the pitch. But I actually played quite well. Luckily it was my 20s and not my 30s.”

Chelsea won the game 5-0. Cole then came to Bridge’s defence, at least initially, by claiming it actually helped make you concentrate more as a player.

“Because you’ve been a bit naughty, you actually focus more on not making a mistake which actually ups your game,” he reasoned before Bridge honestly admitted in the background – “but you shouldn’t do it.”

Cole then turned the tables, telling Bridge: “We’re not condoning it – don’t follow his example! He’s not a model pro!”

With the Liquid Football studio in hysterics, Bridge retorted: “You’re worse than me, don’t start digging me out! Do not listen to this man. We’re going to have to edit these last minutes out.”

A gracious Cole then put his hands up and said: “I apologise to Wayne Bridge for calling him names.”

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