After Joe Cole scored his cheeky little back-heel against United at the weekend, it was suggested to me his clearly improved performance was for the benefit of the home manager rather than his own. Naturally I argued he was actually making the point he’s still a Chelsea boy at heart – despite having just about resigned myself to losing him weeks ago.
Unusually for me because I’d generally argue black was white against the opposition anyway, for the best part of the season, I genuinely believed the idea of Joe Cole not signing a contract with us was laughable. I mean, he’d always made it clear he wanted to stay at Chelsea hadn’t he? He’d never said otherwise in the press and given his commitment to the club they’d be mad to let him go wouldn’t they? As the season has gone on though, the links to United haven’t gone away and coupled with no signs of a return to form, I could actually see him going.
I’ve had all the ‘he’s too loyal to go and play there’ rows – and I’ve probably argued both sides of that one depending on who it is I’m talking to but let’s face it, whether we like United or not you have to admit any ambitious player who isn’t valued at their own club and suddenly gets the offer to play for them, is going to take SAF’s hand off for the opportunity. So, like I say, I’d just about grudgingly accepted he’d be off in the summer.
Not so though according to Carlo Ancelotti because clearly softening to him in the afterglow of Saturday’s win, the Chelsea manager says “Joe Cole has the same focus as the rest of the team. He wants to play well and wants to win the title. For him, there is also a desire to go to the World Cup and if he carries on like he did here he will be there. Now he has some consistency in his game and that is good for him.”
With contract negotiations apparently ongoing, Ancelotti has apparently told the club he wants to keep hold of the midfielder and insists “He will definitely sign a new contract. There is no problem, don’t worry. I’ve spoken a lot about Joe Cole with my club and everyone has a desire for him to stay at Chelsea and so does he. There is not a problem, it is an economical problem nothing else.”
The player himself is keeping his cards next to his chest when it comes to the weekly rumours in the press although remains as focused on his game as ever, stating “Football has been very difficult for me for 18 months but there`s no doubting my desire. I will get back to my best because I`ve got my best years ahead of me. I don`t want to talk tactics too much because you don`t want to speak about what`s going on in the dressing room but the slight change with Deco in there, has helped us a lot and helped me personally because I`m probably more of a winger now. I`m just happy to be back playing and big games like this are what it`s all about. Talking to other guys who`ve had the same injury as me, they say you get back stronger. My leg feels stronger. I just need a run of games to prove it. I want to play every game and usually if you do that in football then things tend to fall for you.”
Things haven’t fallen for him at all this season, to the detriment of his England career and on that subject, Cole says “I love playing for England, I miss it and it breaks my heart every time I`m not there. I`ve just got to keep playing. If I can keep my place in the team I`ll have a chance. The one thing you can`t do is talk yourself into the England squad. You`ve got to play and I want to be part of it so much. I just want to be back in that squad.”
Personally, I’d be only too happy to see him back in the Chelsea squad on a more regular basis, particularly if his performance against United signals a return to form for him because despite a lack of faith in his ability from far too many of his own club’s supporters for my liking, given a bit of encouragement from the likes of SAF, Joe Cole is a player who could do us more harm than good to let go.
Right now that isn’t something we have to worry about because he’s still clearly committed to the Chelsea cause with as much enthusiasm as ever, stating “It`s in our hands now. The way we are playing, as strong as we look, we`re capable of winning all the games. When you win a big game emotions are high and we were buzzing afterwards.”
Blue is the colour
