An indifferent start to the campaign has seen the left-back drop out of the team.
The tinkering policies at Chelsea under Jose Mourinho’s second reign seem to be continuing as the manager has dropped Ashley Cole for right-back Cesar Azpilicueta.
Despite the fact that the Spaniard is being played on the opposite flank to usual, Mourinho thinks that it has been a good choice with Azpilicueta impressing against Schalke 04 in the Champions League and West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
“I can make mistakes, I can be unfair, for sure I am and for sure I do that, but I always give a lot of thought to my decisions,” the 50-year-old was quoted by ITV.
“I decided for Azpilicueta to play against Schalke and he was fantastic. On Saturday he was very good again.”
It’s a difficult time for Cole, who has been the undisputed first choice at left-back for club and country for the past decade – whether that is at Arsenal or the Blues.
Yet at 33-years-old the defender is starting to show signs of age and has been caught out on too many occasions so far this campaign.
However, Mourinho believes that the England international is a strong player and will get back into the starting XI at some point.
“Ashley is a top professional, he is a fighter. He has to work hard, to fight hard because the place [in the team] is his place,” the boss continued.
“Of course it is not Azpilicueta’s best position, and it is not a position where Ashley can think that he is in trouble now.
“No, he has to just to work and fight and the position is there waiting for him, no problem.”
Mourinho has been criticised at times this term for not knowing what the Portuguese coach’s best team is, with changes being made constantly to accommodate a squad brimming with talent.
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