Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has told media that Ashley Cole is unlikely to force his way back into the side anytime soon.
The left-back has played second fiddle to Cesar Azpilicueta, whose natural position is right back, since Jose Mourinho returned to the London club.
Cole out in the Cold » Chelsea FC News
Cole’s England future is in doubt due to this, with players such as Everton’s Leighton Baines and Southampton’s Luke Shaw being talked about as starters in Brazil.
Jose Mourinho explained his thinking behind Cole’s axing from the side:
“I cannot think in national teams at the same time as thinking about my team”
He added, “I’m very happy with the way (Cesar) Azpilicueta is performing”, which would suggest that the Portuguese has no intentions of drafting Cole back into the team.
Previously, it had been predicted that England manager, Roy Hodgson, would play Cole despite his lack of game time with the Blues:
“There are national team managers that are very clear: they go with their players. It doesn’t matter if they are playing in their club…they go with their players.”
However this theory could be tested with Leighton Baines, Luke Shaw and even Kieran Gibbs playing more regularly for their respective clubs.
Ashley Cole’s contract is up at the end of the season, leaving doubts over whether we will see him at Chelsea beyond the summer.
England face Denmark in a friendly at Wembley next month.
