Mourinho: Cole ready to fill in for Drogba
The Portuguese coach has confirmed the England under-21 striker is waiting in the wings to seize his place should the Ivory Coast star opt to play for his country in January.
Drogba and Ghanaian midfielder Michael Essien have already helped their respective countries to qualify for the World Cup finals in Germany next summer but they could be missing for up to a month if they choose to play in the African Nations Cup.
However, while Mourinho accepts he is powerless to stop either player taking part in the tournament, he was ready to blood the improving Cole if he loses Drogba.
As further proof of his admiration for the progress of Cole, Mourinho revealed the striker will be on the bench against Bolton at Stamford Bridge today.
Cole has already received rave reviews for his performances for the England under-21 team this season but Mourinho does not agree with the idea that the player needs to go out on loan to gain more first-team football.
Cole has endured less than successful spells on loan with Charlton and Aston Villa in the last two seasons and Mourinho now feels his future career is best served vying for a first-team place against the likes of Hernan Crespo, Drogba and Eidur Gudjohnsen at Stamford Bridge.
The striker, who has yet to play for the first team this season, is clearly on the brink of a breakthrough and if Drogba goes to the African Nations Cup then he will definitely be offered the chance to prove he can cut it at the highest level.
Mourinho does not yet know what Drogba’s or Essien’s intentions are, but he does know he is in a no-win situation trying to stop them.
“We know the rules,” he said. “We know we cannot fight against the rules. It is in the hands of the national teams and their managers as well as the players.
“I cannot say to one of my players that he cannot go because I have no power to do that. So if they decide between them and the national teams to go, I will not stop them.
“But if, because Essien and Drogba have already qualified for the World Cup, they agree between them that it is better for them to stay with Chelsea than go to the African Nations Cup, I will be very pleased to have them, use them and take care of them. But it something I cannot influence.”
The loss of midfield powerhouse Essien will be more sorely felt by Mourinho whose side currently stand nine points clear at the summit of the Premiership.
Of course, much will depend on the strength of their league position in January - but on the subject of Cole, Mourinho could not be more specific.
“Carlton will be on the bench against Bolton,” he confirmed. “He is a player I like very much and a player who has to compete against Drogba, Crespo and Gudjohnsen and life is not easy in that respect.
“But I believe and I think he also believes that at this moment of his career, it is better for him to be at Chelsea than be on loan at another club, even if he was playing regularly with them.
“He had this chance at Charlton and Aston Villa but things didn’t work very well. At this moment at Chelsea, he is fantastic, particularly the way, mentally, he is waiting for a chance.
“I am really happy with him and for example, if in January, Drogba goes to the African Nations Cup, he is a player that will have a lot of chances during that period.”
England under-21 coach Taylor said this week of Cole: “Personally I would say to him he should work as hard as he can to get into the Chelsea side.
“People talk about him going out on loan but I think he’s at a fantastic club with a fantastic manager and if he keeps working hard he will get his chance.”
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