Chelsea’s Cole seeks redemption in Champions League final
Written by: Brainiac
Perhaps no one is more eager for next Wednesday’s Champions League final to arrive than Chelsea defender Ashley Cole.
Cole is determined to banish the memory of losing in the final with Arsenal in 2006 - the Gunners came within minutes of claiming the trophy, but were beaten 2-1 by Barcelona after leading with 14 minutes remaining.
That was Cole's final game for Arsenal as he headed to Stamford Bridge the following August after one of the most protracted transfers in Premier League history.
Now he gets another shot when the Blues face Manchester United, who edged Chelsea for the Premier League title, in Moscow next week. Chelsea is +170 to win on the WagerWeb.com money line, with the Red Devils at +135.
"I think Manchester United deserved to win the league, but this is something totally different and we are not going there to be second best,” Cole said. "If I get the chance to play then it is another moment in my career when I can say I played in a Champions League final, but I do not want to be in the same situation as I was in last time. No one remembers a loser and I want to go there and lift the trophy.”
Cole admits the Blues are happy to have the chance to make amends so soon.
"Everyone was really disappointed about losing the title, but no one is going to dwell on it because we have got a big game in Moscow next week," he said. "To win the Champions League would make up for the disappointment of last week."
Avram Grant may not survive if the Blues return from owner Roman Abramovich's home country without the trophy, while Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard, whose futures remain uncertain with the Blues, could opt to stay if Chelsea is victorious.
Assistant manager Henk ten Cate believes past experience could give Chelsea the edge over Manchester United.
"A final is always on its own, but we have about six players in our squad who have won the Champions League at one time and maybe that can be an advantage,” he said. "We also have two or three players that played a final so they know what it is to play a final at that level. But it's going to be close."
Champions League winners now playing for Chelsea are Nicolas Anelka, Claude Makelele, Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho, Andrei Shevchenko and Juliano Belletti, who scored the winner for Barcelona against Arsenal in 2006.
Michael Ballack and Cole have tasted defeat at the final hurdle with Bayer Leverkusen and Arsenal, respectively.
POLICE PRESENCE: Six thousand police and Interior Troops on foot, in vehicles and on horseback will be on duty in and around Luzhniki stadium for the match between Manchester United and Chelsea, Interior Ministry spokesman Valery Gribakin said Thursday.
That is 15 to 20 percent more police and servicemen than are normally on hand for major sports events in Moscow, Gribakin said.
Tens of thousands of English fans are expected in Moscow for the match.
Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said Russia would do "everything" to prevent violence and "ensure that there are no acts of revenge" following the stabbing of a Russian fan ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Cup match in Manchester between Zenit St. Petersburg and Rangers.
Comments
Leave a Reply
-
Bet On It
-
Betting Odds
Support
Online Sports Betting Trends
NBA
NCAABK
NHL
NFL
| There are no current trends available. Please choose another sport above. |
NCAAFB
| There are no current trends available. Please choose another sport above. |
