Ashley Cole faces tough task to win back Chelsea spot

ASHLEY COLE has been warned he faces a fight to reclaim his Chelsea starting spot.

Ashley Cole is not guaranteed a spot in the Chelsea XI after recovering from an injury [DARREN WASLH/CHELSEA FC/PA]

Blues manager Jose Mourinho yesterday confirmed Cole will return to the squad at West Ham today after a rib injury.

But despite the England leftback being deemed ready to line up against Germany this week, Cole will not walk back into the Chelsea starting line-up.

Instead Mourinho will again pick Cesar Azpilicueta, who has switched from right-back.
The Blues boss said: "It's no dilemma. I play Azpilicueta because he's stronger at this moment. He's physically at the top of his game.


"Ashley is a top professional. He doesn't need messages. He just needs time to recover 100 per cent and put himself at the top of his game and fight better.

“It's no dilemma. I play Azpilicueta because he's stronger at this moment. He's physically at the top of his game”

Jose Mourinho

"He's not the kind of personality you need to leave on the bench, to send him a message that he has to give more. He doesn't need that.

"He's not injured. He does not have a broken rib any more."
Mourinho has also told Spanish giants Barcelona to forget about signing midfielder Ramires.
And he wants 21-year-old keeper Thibaut Courtois - who is on loan at Atletico Madrid - to sign a new deal.

He said: "There's no price for a club wanting to buy Ramires.
"And Courtois is undoubtedly the best young keeper in the world, with two more years on his contract.
"We are in control of the situation."