Cole hopes to deliver for Chelsea
England midfielder Joe Cole is relishing the prospect of continuing his amazing goalscoring run against Liverpool when the sides clash for the 10th time in two seasons in Saturday‘s FA Cup semi-final at Old Trafford.
Cole scored the only goal in both Premiership meetings last season and was on target again when Chelsea thumped Rafa Benitez’s side 4-1 at Anfield in October.
The former West Ham star insists the familiarity between the two sides will ultimately mean the showdown will be a cagey affair, but Cole is determined to help Chelsea keep their league and cup double dream alive.
“I think it will be tight,” predicted Cole. “Liverpool are coming into a bit of form and their strikers are banging in the goals.
“It is on a neutral ground and it will be a real cagey affair. They’re improving all the time and all seem to work hard and fight for the manager.
“They’re always hard to play against but it made a difference going 2-1 up at Anfield the day we beat them 4-1 this season.
“Playing against a Liverpool side that has to come out and play against you is a lot different to playing against a Liverpool side that will sit back.
“It is what they are best at, catching you on the break. But whatever the game dictates, we know we can win and we just have to adjust.”
The other omen for Cole and his side is his special affinity with Old Trafford which has developed along with his England career.
But while accepting the importance of the tie to Chelsea, Cole insists he will not become over excited by the hype.
“I love playing at Old Trafford,” said Cole. “It is a magic ground. We play a lot of games there for England and it is special. With all the Chelsea fans there in force it will give us a good edge.
“It may be a semi-final but it just feels like another game. We are always playing big games here at Chelsea with high pressure. It’s another one of those and another one we have to win.”
Victory would put Chelsea in the final and set them up to retain the title they won for the first time in 50 years last season.
A point against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday week would provide Jose Mourinho and his squad with back-to-back titles.
The FA Cup remains the only domestic trophy Chelsea have not secured since Mourinho took charge in the summer of 2004.
“To win the league is the main thing but to add a cup would add extra spice,” admitted Cole.
“If we can win both it will be a brilliant season, but every English player wants to win the FA Cup, so to get to the final is very important to us.”
