Wayne Bridge says he moved to Manchester City because he could not shift Ashley Cole from Chelsea's left-back slot, irrespective of his form.
"No matter how well I played, I was never going to establish myself there," he told a news conference on Thursday.
"Maybe manager Luiz Felipe Scolari thinks Cole is a better left-back than me - that is the way football goes."
Bridge, 28, became City's first signing of the transfer window after signing from Chelsea in an estimated £10m deal.
"I thought I was going to get a lot more games [at Chelsea] than what I had been doing," Bridge revealed.
"It just was not happening and it was probably the most frustrated I have been.
"There was a time when I had a string of games in the first team, and then Ashley Cole came straight back in."
"Obviously it's going to take time, but we're going to progress and keep doing so until we achieve big things"Despite the England international's frustration with his limited chances at Stamford Bridge, he insists he does not hold any grudges.
"I spoke to Scolari but I'll leave that between me and him - and I left on a good note," added Bridge.
"Everyone was happy when an offer from Manchester City was put on the table - and for me it is a great opportunity to start playing week-in week-out."
But Bridge - who played alongside his new manager Mark Hughes for a short period at Southampton - believes it will take time to achieve success with his new club.
"I'm very impressed with the vision of the club and where it wants to go," he said when joining City.
"Obviously it's going to take time, but we're going to progress and keep doing so until we achieve big things."
Expectations surrounding the club hit unprecedented levels following the August takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group.
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But after a promising start which saw the Eastlands club playing attractive, winning football, City now lie just two points above the Premier League relegation zone and crashed out of the FA Cup against Championship strugglers Nottingham Forest 3-0 on Saturday.
As a result, Hughes is under increased pressure but Bridge believes he is the man to turn things around.
"I know him quite well, and when I spoke to him everything he said was positive. That's good to hear," said Bridge.
"He was positive about me as well, and that's nice because it gives me confidence - so I hope I'll be showing that on the pitch."
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