When Jose Mourinho isn’t baiting other clubs and managers, he occasionally likes to offer up nuggets of wisdom about his own players.
He’s been on the wind-up recently (check out his comments regarding Manchester City!), but his feelings regarding Chelsea left-back, Ashley Cole, are worthy of discussion.
With Leighton Baines rise to prominence over the last couple of seasons, it’s unclear whether Ashley Cole can still be labelled ‘the best English left-back’. But Jose Mourinho is still willing to back his man. Check out these quotes:
“I think the national team manager knows in every country who arethe best players, the ones he can trust. Ashley is playing well. Okay, he is not playing every game but he is playing well. And I think that is just what Roy Hodgson wants to know.” (Source: The Star)
Cole has been his country’s best left-back for a number of years now, but Baines is doing a good job of snatching this role away from him.
But let’s not forget Luke Shaw, who has been making a real name for himself at Southampton. The English youngster has pace to burn, attacking flair and bags of energy. This combined with his technical ability makes him a player that’s worth keeping your eye on.
And what of Arsenal left-back, Kieran Gibbs? The 24-year-old comes from the same youth set-up that birthed Cole and shares many of his qualities. Both have good technical ability, pace and attacking prowess. Over the last 12 months, Gibbs has also managed to up his defensive contributions significantly.
So that’s three footballers, all of whom have a claim to Ashley Cole’s thrown. Mourinho’s suggestion that all international managers know who their best players are just doesn’t seem true. At this moment in time, it’s unclear who Roy Hodgson will select as his first choice left back during the 2014 World Cup.
At 33-years-old, Cole’s position in this Chelsea side is no longer secure. He’s lost his place in the first team to youngster Cesar Azpilicueta and may well lose his place in the international side to one of the aforementioned left-backs.
Of course Jose Mourinho would back his own player, but his comments need to be taken with a pinch of salt. For the first time in a number of years, England have no clear first choice left-back.
This is a good thing. Competition for places is always good thing. Let’s see if Ashley Cole has the chutzpah to establish himself as his country’s best once more.
What’s your take? Who’s England’s best left-back?
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