The finest left-back of his generation, Ashley Cole
probably didn’t think he would face a do-or-die audition for club and country
this season.
But as Chelsea are pitted against a rampant Atletico
Madrid side in the Champions League semi-finals, Cole must come in from the
cold to deliver one of his vintage displays.
Early on in this campaign, Cole was ousted from his spot
by Cesar Azpilicueta, a natural right-back. The Spaniard’s tireless displays
have ensured he has kept his starting berth, while Cole has had to contend with
a severely limited role.
Likewise, the Cole-or-Baines England debate is no longer
relevant, with the Everton man enjoying another excellent season and surely in
place to be Roy Hodgson’s No 3.
The new question is Cole or Luke Shaw. With the teenage
Southampton prodigy justifying the £30million snooping of Manchester United and
– yes – Chelsea, it remains a possibility that Cole may not even make it to Brazil
as reserve left-back.
That could all change Tuesday night. With Branislav
Ivanovic suspended, Cole could return to his left-back spot, with Azpilicueta
switching to the right flank.
Unless David Luiz plays in an unfamiliar right-back role,
Mourinho will turn to old favourite Cole.
If he can make the same kind of contribution as he did in
the run-up to Chelsea winning the Champions League in 2012, the England man
will surely be right back in the manager’s good books.
Cole’s goal-line clearance at Napoli to stop the Italians
having a truly unassailable 4-1 lead in that year’s last-16 clash was as
important as any goal on the road to Munich.
Azpilicueta has been sensational since his redeployment,
but he’s made mistakes in two recent crucial games that Cole possibly wouldn’t
have.
In Chelsea’s last European trip, he limply let Ezequiel
Lavezzi through for PSG’s potentially crucial third goal.
In Saturday’s dismal, title-bid destroying loss against
Sunderland, he turned awkwardly against Jozy Altidore and attempted a
last-ditch tackle, conceding the hotly-disputed decisive penalty. A natural
left-footer may have faced the challenge straight on.
With Nemanja Matic ineligible, Cole would be the only
left-footed player in the Blues’ line-up.
The three-time Premier League winner will have his work
cut out. Atletico’s right flank sees the tricky Koke cutting inside to provide
chances for talisman Diego Costa, while Juanfran poses a wide attacking threat
from his full-back position.
Be part of an invaluable Chelsea clean sheet and Cole
will have passed the test with flying colours, putting himself back in the
frame for the crucial remaining games of the season. He would provide a large
dose of the winning mentality so lacking against Sunderland.
It would also send a crucial message to Roy Hodgson,
fresh from Shaw’s deserved nomination for Young Player of the Year.
World Cups are not the time to be handing out experience
for the sake of it. They’re the time for your most vital players to stand up
and be counted in the ultimate pressure-cooker. That’s Cole’s bread and butter.
They won’t get bigger than the Vicente Calderon Stadium
clash if Cole is selected. With the chance of another year at Chelsea on the
table, the decade’s best left-back must grasp this last chance to reclaim his
role for club and country.
Culled from Daily Mail
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