Ashley and Joe Cole Discuss Mourinho’s Real Madrid Stint and Chelsea’s Managerial Path
Former Chelsea and England teammates Ashley and Joe Cole have shared their insights on Jose Mourinho’s latest appointment at Real Madrid and offered their perspectives on Xabi Alonso’s potential impact at their former club, Chelsea.
The Cole brothers, now podcast partners, delved into the current Chelsea squad, including key players like Cole Palmer and Reece James, and the potential challenges Xabi Alonso might face. The future of players like Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella remains a topic of discussion, with both currently at the World Cup with their national teams, Argentina and Spain respectively, and their club futures uncertain.
Ashley Cole, who moved from Arsenal to Chelsea after the 2006 World Cup, stressed the importance of disconnecting from club matters during international tournaments. “You have to disconnect,” Ashley stated. “If you go into a tournament thinking of club matters, that is going to cloud your performance. The only way to get a move, or stay at your club, or shut people up, is to perform. Enzo will have that same mindset. I’ve had the privilege to work with him. He’s got a good head on his shoulders.”
Having worked with Fernandez and Cucurella as an assistant at Chelsea, Ashley considers them top-level players who the club should aim to retain. Joe Cole echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the difficulty of shunning transfer speculation but emphasizing professionalism. “You wouldn’t be human if it wasn’t on your mind, but you have to be a professional footballer, and the World Cup is so encompassing, so exciting, it does take all your attention. There is something in your mind, the future of those players will be running around in their heads, but professional footballers get on with it.”
Alonso’s Managerial Role and Chelsea’s Business Model
Joe Cole expressed a degree of skepticism regarding Chelsea’s designation of Xabi Alonso as ‘manager’ rather than ‘head coach.’ “As long as it’s not a PR move,” he commented. “When Xabi Alonso walks through the door at Cobham, and there’s the first incident where he needs something which is against what the club need, then we’ll see if he’s a manager or a head coach. I’m happy it’s been said. Let’s see it in action.”
While club sources reportedly deem players like Palmer and Joao Pedro ‘untouchable,’ Joe Cole argued that the club’s shift in operational priorities means every player has a price. “Because so much money has been wasted at Chelsea, no player is untouchable, every player has a price, because it’s run as a business. Under Roman Abramovich, the club was run to win trophies first, make money second. Now, the club is run to make money first, win trophies second. That’s the truth.” He added, “Chelsea fans aren’t silly. They know what’s going on. Let Xabi Alonso do his work, and we move.”
Ashley Cole, drawing from his own experience transitioning from Arsenal to Chelsea, defended Marc Cucurella’s value to the team. “I came from Arsenal to Chelsea and I didn’t perform straightaway. There was pressure and expectation. Now, Cucurella is someone you should keep. He’s a top performer.” He questioned the logic of selling key players, stating, “If you sell Cucurella, Hato plays, but then you need a solution as a back-up to him, so who will that be?”
Mourinho’s ‘Tough Love’ and Influence
The conversation also turned to Jose Mourinho, their former manager at Chelsea, who has rejoined Real Madrid. Ashley Cole recalled Mourinho’s meticulous approach to media management, often shielding his players from pressure. “In team meetings, he would literally say, ‘Right, today, in the press, I’m going to go at the referee’, or ‘I’m going to go at their manager’,” Ashley revealed. “It was, ‘I’m going to take it away from you guys’. He was very meticulous. He’s determined, organised, diligent.”
Joe Cole recounted an instance of Mourinho’s ‘tough love’ after a 2005 match, where the manager warned him, “I’ve told him one more match like that and he’s out. He has to play for the team and not for the public and himself.” Reflecting on Mourinho’s past ‘untouchables’ list, Ashley humorously noted being named while Joe was not, adding, “You’re only untouchable until you’re not, if that makes sense.”
Joe believes Mourinho’s direct approach is suited for Real Madrid, particularly in his potential dealings with star players like Kylian Mbappe. “Jose doesn’t mess about,” Joe asserted. “There will be plain conversations. I would imagine he’ll go, ‘Listen, do you want to be remembered as a great player who never won the Champions League and left PSG then they won it twice? Or do you want to come with us and build this team and become the leader we all know you are?’ He’ll put it right on Kylian Mbappe.” Joe emphasized the need for Mbappe to embrace team play and leadership within the Madrid squad.
Ashley Cole’s Coaching Journey
Ashley Cole recently embarked on his first managerial role with Serie B side Cesena, following a seven-year period developing his coaching skills, including a stint with England’s U21s. He expressed his enjoyment and learning experiences in Italy, despite the club’s 11th-place finish. “People are always quick to say, ‘They can’t do it’, and it’s like, ‘Well, have you ever seen them do it?'” Ashley remarked. “How do you know if they can do it or not? It’s very easy to say they can’t do it because they’ve played for five years with a low block, long balls, direct football.”
His contract with Cesena is set to expire at the end of the month, making him available for new opportunities. “I felt I needed to give it a go myself after the body of work I had done on the grass, leading meetings, organising sessions,” Ashley said of management. “I loved it, enjoyed it, learned a lot from it, and I’m ready to go again.” He stressed the importance of choosing his next role wisely, seeking support and understanding for the time needed to implement changes and achieve results.
Joe Cole praised his friend’s dedication, stating, “Ash is absolutely brilliant. I’ve never seen someone with as much dedication and devotion to his craft.” He expressed surprise that Ashley had to seek coaching experience abroad, lamenting the lack of opportunities for young coaches in England. “In this country, we’re terrible at supporting and giving opportunities and putting support networks around young coaches. He’ll be embarrassed that I’m saying this, but if there is a decent club out there that’s serious, they should be falling over fighting each other for someone like Ash. Football baffles me.”
