Cole’s classy comeback sums up perfect week

NOW that was a good week! Convincing Champions League display (you don’t often hear a Chelsea fan say that), resounding result over Blackburn and Joe Cole not only back, but having lost none of his magic.

Then just to top it all off, results fall perfectly to give us a tiny bit of breathing space at the top of the league.

I’m not sure what was funnier – watching Arsenal throw away a two goal lead, or watching Fergie having the kind of tantrum you are more likely to see from a three-year-old in a supermarket when his mummy tells him he can’t have any sweets – all that was missing was him throwing himself to the floor and pounding his fists on the turf.

But let’s get back to Joe Cole. I bet no one was as pleased to see him play as Frank Lampard; finally, there was someone supplying the kind of passes that Frank loves – he obliged with two goals and was unlucky not to double his tally.

As for Cole, he was irresistible – the flicks, back-heels and dummies were the stuff to make Mourinho spontaneously combust, but I have to say that everyone should have the pleasure of seeing a player like Joe turn out for their team as it reminds you of why you fell in love with the game in the first place. He is a popular player at Stamford Bridge being a Chelsea fan and ex-ball boy, but his modest demeanour, dazzling skills and pride in the shirt ensured he received a rapturous return to the first team. And he did not disappoint.

I think the midfield we saw Saturday, is our strongest and will prove our most potent – Essien and Ballack providing the brawn and Cole and Lampard providing the creativity – not that the pairs aren’t interchangeable – one thing this midfield does not lack is courage in any department and all of them know how to find the back of the net too.

Cole also allowed both Drogba and especially Anelka to concentrate more on their forward positions rather than attempting to bring the ball forward out of midfield – as a result the Blackburn defence had a torrid time.

Ancelotti, back from visiting his ailing father in Italy, looked impressed and even grateful for Cole’s contribution, and who can blame him. Taking in all our victories this season under the Italian, this looked the most comprehensive, and the most entertaining.

One of the criticisms I have had of the season is that we are a little slow to start in our matches. We have the players and the capability to go for it right from the whistle but instead we often have tried to play a steady build up type of game. All this does is give the opposition hope and allow them into the match.

Joe Cole wanted none of that on Saturday – he wanted to make an impact and we were making Robinson work from the kick off to the final whistle. It was Cole who kept that momentum up throughout – even though you could see the exertion was hard on him after such a long absence. But he wanted to play – desperately – and it showed, and he deserved that hug from the manager as he came off to thunderous applause.

We needed Cole to hit the ground running as we are entering that Christmas period where games fall thick and fast. We need to rack up as many points as possible before the African Cup of Nations as Christmas is typically the time where clubs sustain the most injuries and I am not keen on the calibre of player we are being linked with should the transfer ban be deferred.

Emile Heskey in a Chelsea shirt is not something I want to see this season or any other season. He is not good enough – full stop. No other discussion is necessary.

So we now have three games within seven days – two against a mid-table Bolton side and one against an Atletico Madrid side who have ditched the manager who oversaw their thumping at the Bridge. None of these should be taken lightly as even our band of experienced players are prone to believing their own press at times and complacency is the biggest threat to us this year I feel. Overcome that, and anything is possible.

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