14 October 2004
Sol Campbell / Ashley Cole post match reaction

Rio Ferdinand post match reaction

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Jermaine Jenas is the latest of Sven's fledglings to come of age and start a competitive game - producing an impressive performance against Azerbaijan.

Now Cole has paid tribute to the way young players are welcomed into the England squad and encouraged to express themselves.

He said: "A lot of the lads have played with each other in the Under-21s or youth teams or things like that's so when they come in they know what they've got to do, and how each other's going to play.

"It's down to the management staff how well they've gelled, and how everybody has made it easier for them.

"Everyone gets used to each other in training and used to how we play and there's a great atmosphere in the camp. I'm more at home with the young ones - there is more to talk about, more to do. Everyone likes playing computer games together - we're like little kids. It is like a family with England."

England's team spirit was in evidence again in Azerbaijan, where they worked hard for each other in difficult conditions and posted a crucial 1-0 victory.

As well as Jenas, Shaun Wright-Phillips also came off the bench to make an impact and Cole was impressed by both.

He said:"If there's any young kids coming through the youth team or the Under 21s I think they'll be quite happy because we've got great young ones coming through and the manager is not scared to play them. I think that's good in the manager. I think as a youngster you want a chance and this manager gives you a chance.

"I'm getting old now at 24 compared to the young ones, but he's given the young ones the chance and I think that's good for English football.

"Everyone in this squad is young and everyone's played with each other in the youth teams. We do the same things and we want to talk about the same things. It was easy for me coming in and it's easy for them."

Cole was also pleased with the result in Baku, even if it was not the flowing, footballing performance that some fans were hoping for.

"It was very windy, very wet and the pitch wasn't the best but again we got the result we needed, and it puts us firmly on top," he said.

"We have taken six points from the two games, so we are happy. Again coming here we knew it would never be easy and it proved not to be.

"Before the game we said we had to put the ball down and play. It was quite windy and quite bobbly, so it was hard to do that. But we had to come here and grind out the three points and we did.

"We are happy with the way the table's looking at the moment. We don't want to get too carried away because when we've played at home we've drawn with Macedonia and teams like that in previous competitions and we know it's going to be really tough. But we're very happy to be top."