Teen speed king Davies improved so fast at Bayern

ALPHONSO DAVIES is a different player altogether to the one Ashley Cole first encountered in the MLS.

The two left-backs faced each other when Davies, who was born in Ghana but raised in Canada, played for Vancouver Whitecaps and Cole was at LA Galaxy. And Cole is impressed with his progress since joining Bayern Munich in January last year.

He said: “Davies is playing in a great team that puts him in good positions.

“He’s so direct, he’s quick, he can go inside and outside.

“I played against him in the MLS and obviously he couldn’t combine there with players of the quality Bayern have.

“Moving to Bayern was a big step. It was a huge risk going from somewhere he was comfortable to play with top stars but he has just improved.

“His timing, his understanding of when to go in behind, when to drag people out of position…

“He has improved on his decision-making and, of course, his strength is his speed.

“Everyone wants to give him time on the ball and you can’t do that because he is so quick. Even if you have five yards on him, he’ll push it past you and still go.

“He has won the

Bundesliga already and he could end up with two trophies in his first full season at the club.

“It’s a great achievement for him and he sounds like a good, down-to-earth guy. He wants to learn – and what a club to learn at.”

Playing in a Champions League Final at just 19 will be another huge step in his development.

Cole added: “When you start to play in the Champions League, and you hear that anthem and see the names who have won it and the teams which have won it, that’s when it starts to hit home.

“Apart from the World Cup, this is the biggest competition in the world and one that you always want to win.”

QUICK: Davies