Cole faces up to life on the bench
Monday, November 11, 2013
NOT many people at Chelsea e nj oyed Saturday’s draw with West Brom. Ashley Cole might have enjoyed it least. The left back was on the bench for the second time in a week, with Cesar Azpilicueta — a right back — replacing him.
When Jose Mourinho threatened to shuffle his pack after the poor display against Newcastle, no-one thought Cole would be facing the axe. The feeling ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League victory over Schalke and Saturday’s match was that he must be carrying an injury.
But, when pressed if Cole was still feeling the effects of the rib injury that kept him out of England’s vital World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro and Poland l ast month, Mourinho simply answered: ‘No, he is fine.’
Mourinho, asked about Cole’s second successive omission, said: ‘I can make mistakes, I can be unfair — but I always give a lot of thought to my decisions.
‘I decided for Azpilicueta to play against Schalke, and he was fantastic. Against West Bromwich he was very good again.
‘Of course, it is not Azpilicueta’s best position, it is not a position where Ashley can think he is in trouble now. I think Ashley is a top professional, the fighter he is. He has to just fight and the position is there waiting for him, it is not a problem.’
Leighton Baines excelled for England in Cole’s absence as wins over Montenegro and Poland clinched a place at Brazil 2014. The Everton left back is no longer an international afterthought.
Likewise, with seven months left on his existing deal, the powers that be — Mourinho included — are weighing up whether Cole, who is 33 next month, is worth another lucrative contract.
Blues’ technical director Michael Emenalo has made the identification of Cole’s long-term successor a priority among the club’s global network of scouts.
Among certain members of Chelsea’s recruitment staff there should only be one option: Southampton’s Luke Shaw. But the 18-year- old will be in huge demand when Saints supremo Nicola Cortese f i nally sells his prized asset, prompting Chelsea to widen their search, with Sevilla l eft back Alberto Moreno the latest to be mentioned.
For now, however, Cole knows he remains key for club and country. But for how long? SUPER STAT: Chelsea have three fewer points than at this stage last season when their Champions League-winning boss Roberto Di Matteo soon lost his job. CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Cech 4; Ivanovic 6, Cahill 6, Terry 6, Azpilicueta 6 (Mikel 73min, 6); Ramires 7, Lampard 5 (Ba 64, 5); Hazard 6, Oscar 6 (Mata 73, 6), Willian 6; Eto’o 6. Subs not used: Schwarzer, Cole, Luiz, De Bruyne. Booked: Ivanovic, Lampard, Eto’o. WEST BROMWICH ALBION (4-2-3-1): Myhill 6; Reid 6, McAuley 7, Olsson 7, Ridgewell 6; Yacob 6, Mulumbu 8; Amalfitano 6 (Popov 89), Sessegnon 7 (Morrison 81), Brunt 6; Long 7 (Anichebe 79). Subs not used: Daniels, Dawson, Berahino, Vydra. Booked: Ridgewell, Yacob, McAuley, Olsson, Amalfitano, Long, Brunt. Man of the match: Youssouf Mulumbu. Referee: Andre Marriner 4.