Joe Cole Wants To Be The Sharp Edge Of Ancelotti's Diamond At Chelsea

England international wants to impress 'in the hole'...

EPL: Joe Cole, Chelsea - Wolverhampton (Getty Images)
Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole is eyeing a role as the creative fulcrum of Carlo Ancelotti's team and wants to retain his place as the point of the Blues' midfield diamond.

Cole scored his first goal for 13 months in yesterday's 4-0 hammering of Wolverhampton Wanderers in London and now wants to kick on and cement a starting spot after a frustrating year spent battling injury.

"I love it in the middle. I think the main focus is to perform, wherever you are playing," he said, according to Press Association Sport.

"Good players can play in several positions and I found that I had the ability to play right, left or centre and that's because I can do a broad range of things for the team - cross the ball, pass it through the middle, beat a man.

"Because of these things I have tended to get moved around a little bit. But now I've got back in the centre, which is more natural to me, I'm hoping to cement that place and make it my own.

"I've had a blinding start. I just try and play well in every game and let the manager take care of who starts matches.

"I just need to carry on going and keep playing well. I've had a blinding start and I feel well. "

Cole acknowledged that the time spent on the sidelines had not been easy but he accepts that injuries are another problem football throws up that must be dealt with.

"It is hard being injured, there are lots of things you miss but what can you do?" he added.

"It is part and parcel with being a player. Life isn't plain sailing and you go through peaks and troughs, but you miss playing football when you can't, that's for sure.

"I don't think I am far away from being back to my old self, which is good, and I've just got to keep myself level-headed about everything."

Zack Wilson, Goal.com UK

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Hosted by Stephen Crawford & Adam Scime
2/15/12
And with that, we're going to call it a night, folks.

We've had two tremendous matches today, so lets hope the intensity keeps up in the next clashes!

Until next time, this is LIVE commentator Stephen Crawford signing off.

From everyone here at Goal.com, thanks for joining us!

2/15/12
All this focus on the Arsenal and Milan game should not take away from another cracker earlier tonight between Zenit and Benfica. The Russians came from a goal down to lead 2-1 in the closing minutes before Oscar Cardozo levelled things for Benfica, but it wasn't over there as Roman Shirokov won the game for Zenit in the 88th minute.

Here's the thoughts of Benfica coach Jorge Jesus, who felt his side deserved a point from the game.
2/15/12
Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny bemoaned his side's luck tonight but refused to give up. Here's some of his quotes:

"They were the better team on the night and that's the story of the day.

"We have to keep fighting, pick ourselves up, get the confidence back and challenge in the other competitions and in the second leg of this tie too.

"They punished us on every occasion; they scored some quality goals and they deserved to win."

Full story HERE


2/15/12
Another Milan player who was willing to share his thoughts after the match was Mark van Bommel, who has urged caution ahead of the second leg in London.

“The score made it look like it was an easy game, but it certainly wasn't.

(Strange... it looked pretty easy from where I was sitting, but hey.)

“I do not think it's over yet. I remember a clash between Milan and Deportivo la Coruna when Milan was also ahead by four goals, and in the end Deportivo eliminated Milan.

“I went into the Arsenal dressing room after the match to speak to Robin van Persie. I had agreed with him to swap shirts – my sons are big fans of his and he brought two for them. They will be delighted.


Van Bommel went on to talk about a possible move to PSV in the future, but was quick to point out his terms for the move.

“I've spoken with PSV, but we don't have an agreement yet. The club has to decide what they want.

“If Louis van Gaal turns out to be the new coach, I won't go.”


2/15/12
Next up is the Milan maestro Clarence Seedorf. He only managed 12 minutes on the pitch, but watching from the sidelines he was delighted at how his team mates had dominated the game.

"Tonight everything went in the right direction and we did a very good match. You don't start a match thinking to win 4-0, but at the end i think we deserved it coz we played very well."

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