Bridge warns Chelsea: Play me in Carling Cup Final or I'll leave

Sportsmail can reveal that the England international, who was left out of the Chelsea squad to face Liverpool last Sunday, is determined to quit Stamford Bridge if he does not start the game in 11 days' time.

The defender has been one of the club's most consistent players this season but fears Avram Grant will prefer Ashley Cole in the London derby at Wembley.

Bridge's position leaves the Chelsea coach with a massive decision to make ahead of his first final but the left back believes he deserves his place ahead of troubled Cole. He was outstanding in the 2-0 Carling Cup victory over Liverpool in December and impressed against Everton in both legs of the semi-final.

Bridge, 27, is one of the quieter members of the Chelsea squad but Stamford Bridge sources disclosed that the former Southampton playerwas furious with his omission from the squad last Sunday.

Bridge is still disappointed that Liverpool were not encouraged to follow up their interest in signing him during the January transfer window and he believes his future lies elsewhere.

Grant called his players together during training on Monday to tell them that they could leave if they were not happy at the club and Bridge believes that was the green light for him to quit.

Meanwhile, John Mikel Obi was in tears the day he signed for Chelsea because he wanted to join Manchester United, a court in Norway has heard.

Obi was at the centre of a three-way tug of war in 2006 with Manchester United, Chelsea and Norwegian club Lyn Oslo all insisting he was their player.

Lyn director Morgan Andersen, who has pleaded not guilty to forging a contract that indicated his club had the rights to Obi, told the court about a meeting with Chelsea representatives and the midfielder's agent, John Shittu.

Andersen said: 'It was like meeting the Sopranos. In the meeting they behaved in a threatening way. We claimed we had the rights to Obi but Shittu said we would regret the deal.

'Soon after, Obi's agent took him to the airport in Oslo. They went to London. Obi was crying and we didn t see him for a long time after that.

'His mind was set on Manchester United. He was very happy when the deal was done and he wanted to go to United.'

Obi's future was resolved in June 2006 when the clubs reached an agreement, with Chelsea paying United £12million and Lyn £4m. The court case continues.