Treble is on, says Cole

Joe Cole insists Chelsea are still gunning for the treble despite their European setback against Barcelona.

Jose Mourinho’s Premiership champions take on West Brom tomorrow before heading to Spain looking to overturn a 2-1 home defeat and reach the last eight of the Champions League.

It is a huge task in the Nou Camp, especially without Michael Essien and Asier del Horno, who are both suspended, and possibly without Frank Lampard, who is fighting a hamstring strain.

Cole, the star of England’s midweek win over Uruguay, said: “We’ve not given up on the Champions League. It’s just a case of scoring two goals out there and we are capable of doing it.

“This is when it counts. These are the real big games. We’re in great shape. Hopefully everyone will be fit to go.

“We have to win the game. We have to go there and score two goals and if anyone’s capable of doing that it’s our squad of players.

“It won’t be a bad season if we win the double, but it depends which double you’re talking about.”

Lampard, injured in the first leg of the Barca tie at Stamford Bridge, is set to miss out against West Brom in a bid to boost his chances of being ready to take on the Spanish champions.

Cole said: “Frank’s a world-class player and any team would miss him but we’ll have to cope without him.

“We’ve got players like Claude Makelele, Michael Essien and Eidur Gudjohnsen who are world-class players as well. We will have to cope.”

Chelsea, aiming to emulate Manchester United’s treble of 1999, are also in the FA Cup quarter-finals and 12 points clear at the top of the Premiership.

Mourinho claims the title is in the bag but Chelsea’s form has slipped below their own standards in recent weeks.

Cole said: “We know we’re not playing as well as we can. We haven’t had fantastic results.

“We’ve had good results and some average ones over the last week or two. We just want to get back to winning consistently.

“There’s no danger of us being distracted by Barcelona because we have the right players with the right attitude.

“We’ve shown that lots of time this season when we’ve been under pressure and had to get results and we have done.

“We want to keep that 12-point gap at the top and not let anyone near us.

“It’s not easy to win the Premiership. We’ve come on as a team, we’ve played very well but in some aspects we’ve not been as good as we were last year.”

Cole’s own form has been brilliant for both club and country this season but he insists he will not wallow in the plaudits which followed his match-winning efforts against Uruguay on Wednesday.

The Blues midfielder said: “Football has a funny way of turning its back on you at times and you’ve just got to keep going.

“I’m pleased with my form but I’m always trying to get better.

“I certainly won’t be resting on my performances.

“It’s all about yourself as a person. Can you motivate yourself for every game? Not just the big ones.

“Every single game is massive at this club because the whole world watches and you have to bring yourself up to 100% every game.”

Cole did not play a single minute for England in the Euro 2004 championships, in Portugal, but bounced back to win the league title and Carling Cup with his club.

He has also become a fixture in Sven-Goran Eriksson’s team.

Cole said: “It’s been a good two years. I’ve just got to keep going.

“I’ve learned a lot not just from Jose Mourinho and Mr Eriksson but from all the staff and players at Chelsea.

“To come and play with world-class players and train every day with a manager who has won the Champions League, all I can do is learn and it would be silly of me not to.

“I always keep my eyes open and learn.”

Chelsea will wear black armbands at West Brom as a mark of respect for their legendary striker Peter Osgood, who died suddenly on Wednesday.

Cole said: “My uncles and grandparents spoke about him all the time. I’ve seen the video clips and he was an exceptional player.

“I only knew him as a man and as a man he was top-drawer. It is a tragic loss to the club.

“He’s a legend not only to the players but to everyone here. He was still very much part of the club. He was always at games and he always had something positive to say about everyone.

“He’s going to be missed dearly by everyone at the club, especially the English players who he often spoke to. Our thoughts are with his family.”