Eriksson thanks Chelsea boss for transforming Cole’s career

SVEN-GORAN Eriksson has thanked Jose Mourinho for transforming Joe Cole’s career as he insisted that he would not swap his new-look England midfield with any other quartet in the world.

Eriksson has tried to make Cole a more disciplined player by restraining his creative urges and requiring him to track back and defend more often.

But it has still taken Mourinho’s influence to complete the process, with Cole rising to the occasion on his first competitive start for England in their 4-0 victory against Northern Ireland.