Chelsea Champions League winner hits out at 'hostile and disrespectful' former Premier League boss - and reveals he refused to speak to him in a 'Mexican standoff'

Former Chelsea and Southampton defender Ryan Bertrand has revealed details of a significant conflict he experienced with Premier League manager Ralph Hasenhüttl during their time together at Southampton. Bertrand, who joined Southampton permanently in 2015 after multiple loan spells from Chelsea, described a "Mexican standoff" situation where communication between them completely broke down during Hasenhüttl's first season in charge in 2018.

The tension reportedly stemmed from Hasenhüttl's initial "egotistical" and "authoritarian" management approach, which created friction within the squad. At age 29 during his fifth Saints season, Bertrand became unsettled to the point where he needed to consult club executives to understand the manager's issues with him. This period marked a low point in their professional relationship where they stopped speaking entirely.

Despite the serious conflict, Bertrand emphasized that he eventually resolved differences with Hasenhüttl, whom he now considers "a really good guy" deserving of respect. The former left-back noted a significant transformation in Hasenhüttl's demeanor over time, observing that the Austrian manager became much friendlier towards the end of his tenure compared to his authoritarian beginnings at the club.