Ashley Cole

[manpe 10,861]

I miss him very much. It pains me seeing Ivanovic getting 3 touches every single attack when we're trying to break teams down. The full-backs are super important against deep defensive teams in building up attacks, because more often than not they get the most space to operate and it was very clear against Sunderland, our full-backs got probably the most passes from our midfielders. Ash on the left and Dave on the right would be so much better in certain games in my opinion. I think this is one of our weakest points and one of the reasons we struggle against defensive teams - we are relying on a centre-back and a right back playing on the left to break teams down.

I mean what the fuck, Ash can't be so bad, can he? The last two games he played (both against stoke i believe) he was very lively and useful. Ivan and Azpi on the other hand look like they can barely run at times.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Hopefully he didn't play yesterday because he will start in Madrid.

Wishful thinking yes, but I don't even want to contemplate Ramires or Luiz at RB

[Alan Partridge 1,124]

I remember him playing early in the season and he got absolutely destroyed for pace.

[The Skipper 20,593]

I remember him playing early in the season and he got absolutely destroyed for pace.

You can also look back earlier this season and look at his performance against Southampton (who we beat 3-0 in their backyard) where he was absolutely impervious. He still has some good performances left in him but he's been completely under utilised by Mourinho this season, which is quite a shame.

[bushman 2,043]

Since we don't see Cole much for some unknown reason, maybe our bombastic club spokesman Jose might use him on Tuesday?

[LAB 1,030]

I do not fear he will make a bad CL game. He has plenty of good XP in that competition. Therefore i'm happy he played 0 minutes on Saturday, right choice by Mourinho. And we get to finally see Azpi in his right side after a long time and underline some notes.

[haranr 485]

He deserves so much! so much fucking credit! LEGEND! I love you Ash!!!!

[DH1988 1,304]

Solid after getting nutmugged early on

[Styles 9,790]

The game suited him yesterday. When we park the bus Ashley has always been brilliant. Look at the Super Cup against Bayern, he was one of our best players and had Robben in his pocket.

[boshman 1,073]

Fantastic performance last night considering he has barely played the last few months.

Have to say i'm not sure what's going on with that beard. He looks like a serial killer....

[Madmax 9,219]

Have to say i'm not sure what's going on with that beard. He looks like a serial killer....

I would kill for that beard.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I would kill for that beard.

You can have mine! It's annoying and take time to shave..

[The Chels 2,502]

Cole is the master of goal-line clearances — the one away to Napoli in the 3-1 defeat, and the one at home to Barcelona in the 1-0 victory both in the 2012 CL campaign spring to mind; and yesterday when Schwarzer's punch went straight to Diego, he and Terry were waiting on the line. Legends.

[AshleyCole 2]

Excellent performance by Cole. Sterling couldn't handle him

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Brilliant game, Im wondering why he played so little in 2014...he still has it and I would happily keep him for next season backup.

[Nike 373]

I will never understand why Mourinho bench Cole so much this season. He was fantastic today.

[yuvala 2,167]

Very good game !

[petre.ispirescu 4,928]

Im wondering why he played so little in 2014...

I will never understand why Mourinho bench Cole so much this season. He was fantastic today.

I think it's because Ash is prone to errors when facing teams that play a counter-attacking game against Chelsea. Also his speed isn't the same as it was in the last years.

He is a beast when Chelsea sits deep and follows a counter-attacking gameplan (e.g. Atletico de Madrid, Liverpool). He's been in superb form in these last two games.