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Joe Cole feeling the heat at Chelsea
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-03-06 08:57
LONDON (AFP) - Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole admitted that his fear of being
sold by boss Jose Mourinho has pushed him even harder to prove himself at
Stamford Bridge.
The 24-year-old's current deal expires at the end of next season and he knows
he faces more uncertainty about his future.
"I keep on having to dig deeper and deeper to find more and improve my game
because I've had to," Cole told the News of the World Sunday.
"Other players in the Chelsea and England sides have secured their places but
I'm constantly having to fight and scrap to edge myself in front.
"For instance, I won the title last season and during the last six months I
really felt I had found my game and had achieved something.
"I went on holiday for a break and no one could blame me for lying on the
beach and feeling chuffed about what I had been a part of. People were talking
about me being one of the top players.
"Then all of a sudden my phone rings and I'm being told Chelsea have just
signed two players for 50 million pounds in the two positions I play!
"At that moment, I really thought the worst. I thought it might all be over
for me and that here was a clear sign that I would be off.
"I wasn't sure if the next phone call would be someone telling me they had
accepted a bid for me or something.
"I know the same could happen again this summer. I know what kind of spending
power the club has and how they are looking to improve so I still don't think
I'm safe.
"You try and put those thoughts out of your head and just get on with it but
it can be hard sometimes with all the rumours around."
Claudio Ranieri signed Cole from West Ham for 6.6 million pounds in August
2003 but he has really imposed himself on the team under Mourinho despite
several multi-million pound signings.
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