WITH 107 England caps to his name, Ashley Cole is a man worth listening to.
Particularly when he is assessing the current crop of England full-backs at Gareth Southgate’s disposal in the countdown to Euro 2020.
Ashley Cole is worried England full-backs aren’t being tested enough ahead of Euro 2020
Cole is watching on with interest as Ben Chilwell and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, both 22, plus 21-year-old Trent Alexander-Arnold and even Chelsea rookie Reece James, 20, redefine the position.
In today’s lightning-paced Premier League, they all provide an extra dimension for their teams with their quality going forward.
Yet ex-Arsenal and Chelsea left-back Cole, 38, fears for England next summer because he is worried they are not being tested enough in their defensive qualities.
Chilwell, who is having an electrifying season with high-flying Leicester, is the one that bucks the trend for Cole.
He said: “When he’s played for England he’s played well. He’s shown quality — not just on the ball but one-on-one he can defend.
“He really likes to defend.”
Yet, not too many of the others do the same, claims Cole.
Ben Chilwell and Trent Alexander-Arnold have emerged as Gareth Southgate’s full-backsCredit: PA:Press Association
Asked what they need to do to step up to world-class level, he added: “I would say learn to defend, though obviously football is changing.
“My worry when I watch full-backs these days is they canter back because they don’t have to sprint as they have midfielders who do that job.
“But when they get exposed to the international stage where they have to defend one-on-one, in extra-time or whatever it is, I feel a bit we are falling short as we are neglecting the real defensive work.
“The likes of Robertson, Trent, Wan-Bissaka and Reece at times — they are changing the way football is with how dynamic they are to get up and down, to not be in positions where they are exposed.
“You talk about Trent and Andy Robertson, the way they attack they might as well be left-wingers.
“But the problem is, we don’t see them in defensive areas as much as everyone defends against Liverpool.
Chelsea rookie Reece James will make a late push to be in the England squadCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Manchester United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka is yet to make a senior England capCredit: AP:Associated Press
“For me they are not tested enough to see how good they actually are.
“You talk about defenders, and what they are doing is a prime example of how the modern full-back plays.
“You would say they have to learn how to defend, though it’s just the way football is now.
“They just have that licence to attack.
“Most teams with attacking full-backs have the cover and support of two midfielders, or three at times.”
Cole, whose last match for the Three Lions came against Denmark in 2014, worries about the switch from Premier League to international tournaments.
He finally called time on a 20-year professional career this summer after reuniting with ex-Chelsea team-mate Frank Lampard at Derby last January.
Cole said: “When you go on the international stage and it’s not 38 games in a season, and you just have to sit in and defend, sometimes that’s where you see the problems.
“And again, maybe they are not exposed to being one-on-one enough. Whether that’s in training or week in, week out playing in the Premier League.
“Players have to be a little bit careful they don’t only pay attention to half their job. Their job is to attack, but also defend.
“It’s not their fault. It’s a weapon the clubs are using — Liverpool just attack.
“At Arsenal I had more licence to go up and down, attack and defend.
“The manager gave me that licence to go forward and get back, though what the current full-backs are doing is more staying forward.
“When I joined Chelsea in 2006 my responsibility was to defend. Jose Mourinho liked a back four to defend, then play on the counter- attack at times.
Roy Keane, Ashley Cole and Lee Dixon make fun of Ian Wright taking part in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here
“He didn’t want me to be caught out of position against teams like United who would counter-attack against us.
“Play from your position to the people in front and do your work in behind.”
Cristiano Ronaldo would testify that Cole knew how to defend. England’s rising full-back stars would do well to heed his advice.
Cristiano Ronaldo would testify that Cole knew how to defendCredit: Corbis – Getty
- Uefa ambassador Ashley Cole was speaking at a Nissan event at Stamford Bridge next to the Uefa Champions League Trophy, which is being driven around the UK by the next generation Nissan Juke. For more information go to nissan.co.uk/vehicles/new-vehicles/juke
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
