England midfielder Joe Cole says he will put to one side issues surrounding his club future and concentrate fully on World Cup duty over the next month (England 3/1 – to be top European team).
Chelsea announced on Wednesday that Cole would be leaving Stamford Bridge during the summer, but the player says his future in his agent’s hands.
He is looking forward to the World Cup, and says: “That’s all that is in my mind now.”
Cole added: “I’ve worked hard to be here and I’m leaving all the rest of it to my agent… It’s been going on for a while, but that is a story for another day. Right now, I am just happy to be here. And if I play it will be fantastic.”
The midfielder failed to hold down a regular place for Chelsea, England’s double-winning club champions and cup-holders, during an injury-hit season (13/8 Chelsea – Premier League outright 2010-11).
He underwent surgery on a knee last year and after months of recovery work found it difficult to regain a starting position for Chelsea. But he said he never accepted that his international future was bleak.
“No, I never feared my England days were over,” he told reporters. “I am very confident in my ability, but it was tough for the manager to pick me when I wasn’t playing regularly, rightly or wrongly, at club level.
“Yes, for this tournament I knew I might not make it, but not that it (international career) was over. Now, there is a chance I could be playing against America and for me that is fantastic.
“Now I am back to my best and want to show it at this World Cup and play better than I did at the last one.”
Cole said England coach Fabio Capello, in contrast to his predecessors, kept the players on their toes with his training, selection and discipline.
“The great thing with this squad now, which is different to the whole of my England career, is that you don’t know who this manager is going to pick,” he said.
“This is good and, in my experience, from club level, I’ve always found when that is the case, and players are not picked on reputation, but on form, fitness and temperament, these are the things that get a better team ethic and the team gels together.”
He added: “Fabio Capello is the best manager I have worked with for England.
“I put him alongside (Jose) Mourinho as one of the two best managers I have worked with. He has an aura.
“He knows his way round a football pitch, his tactical knowledge goes without saying and his preparation is spot-on. You don’t want to let him down.”
Cole reveals World Cup focus
Chelsea announced on Wednesday that Cole would be leaving Stamford Bridge during the summer, but the player says his future in his agent’s hands.
He is looking forward to the World Cup, and says: “That’s all that is in my mind now.”
Cole added: “I’ve worked hard to be here and I’m leaving all the rest of it to my agent… It’s been going on for a while, but that is a story for another day. Right now, I am just happy to be here. And if I play it will be fantastic.”
The midfielder failed to hold down a regular place for Chelsea, England’s double-winning club champions and cup-holders, during an injury-hit season (13/8 Chelsea – Premier League outright 2010-11).
He underwent surgery on a knee last year and after months of recovery work found it difficult to regain a starting position for Chelsea. But he said he never accepted that his international future was bleak.
“No, I never feared my England days were over,” he told reporters. “I am very confident in my ability, but it was tough for the manager to pick me when I wasn’t playing regularly, rightly or wrongly, at club level.
“Yes, for this tournament I knew I might not make it, but not that it (international career) was over. Now, there is a chance I could be playing against America and for me that is fantastic.
“Now I am back to my best and want to show it at this World Cup and play better than I did at the last one.”
Cole said England coach Fabio Capello, in contrast to his predecessors, kept the players on their toes with his training, selection and discipline.
“The great thing with this squad now, which is different to the whole of my England career, is that you don’t know who this manager is going to pick,” he said.
“This is good and, in my experience, from club level, I’ve always found when that is the case, and players are not picked on reputation, but on form, fitness and temperament, these are the things that get a better team ethic and the team gels together.”
He added: “Fabio Capello is the best manager I have worked with for England.
“I put him alongside (Jose) Mourinho as one of the two best managers I have worked with. He has an aura.
“He knows his way round a football pitch, his tactical knowledge goes without saying and his preparation is spot-on. You don’t want to let him down.”
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