23 March 2005    
Joe Cole Press Conference

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Joe Cole has a different demeanour about him these days, there’s no doubt about it.

When he breezed into yesterday’s press conference at England’s Manchester hotel he arrived with a joke and left with a smile - and almost floated out of the room.

You could sense this was a man thoroughly happy with himself, his football and his life.

But there was more to it than that, because Cole also proved to be a man of substance. In between all the banter and youthful energy, he answered questions with a thoughtfulness and concentration that proved he has really been thinking about his game over the last six months – and really come to terms with his role at both Chelsea and England.

Cole is unlikely to have heard of it, but there is a story of a presidential visit to NASA in the 1960s, during the great era of space travel, that sums up his attitude.

On that visit, John F Kennedy spoke to every member of staff, quizzing them about their work. The astronaut, naturally, explained his job was to pilot the craft safely through space. The technician described his part in developing an engine capable of blasting through the stratosphere.

But what impressed Kennedy most was when he came to the office cleaner, and asked: "So what do you do?"

"I’m helping to put a man on the moon," was the reply.

That kind of shared goal is needed with England, and you get the sense that Cole is just as centred as that janitor was nearly 40 years ago.

Gone are the days when he appeared like a young child at an adult’s dinner party, desperate to impress. After a season working under Jose Mourinho he no longer feels he has to win a game by himself to get picked next time. He only focuses on the needs of the team and what he can bring to it.

He said: "I am just trying to learn from as many people as possible. I’m always open to new ideas and I have thought about my game a lot. I just think I’m a lot more disciplined. I have always worked hard but now I’m just trying to help the team as much as I can.

"It’s probably been the most enjoyable season I’ve ever had so far. I’ve already got one trophy, which is what you play for really, and to go out there and play with the quality of players we have around me at Chelsea just makes football a lot easier.

"The manager has been very important for me. He will always sit me down and talk about my game. This year I have really thought about the game in a tactical way because there were improvements to be made in my game, and there still is. I can still improve. I think I’ve come on as a player this year and hopefully if I keep learning I can become even better.

"Jose Mourinho is probably the first person who’s really looked at my game like that. I can genuinely say he’s been a massive influence on my career.

"I wouldn’t say I took my game apart. But I analysed myself and what I was doing wrong and what I can improve. I always watch the videos of the games whether I have played good or bad, and it can be painful sometimes when you haven’t played well. But I’ve taken into account everything I do on the pitch and I’m trying to improve. I’ve always had the same dedication to the game but at the moment things are going really well and I want that to continue."

Interestingly, Cole doesn’t just put his improved form down to good coaching, although Mourinho has clearly been a huge mentor for him over the last few months.

The fact is he looks stronger and faster than in the past, and that is due to a good fitness regime that has allowed him to be sharper on the ball and improved his timing in key areas.

He said: "People say I’ve had more of a cutting edge and I think a lot of it is due to fitness. I’m starting to finish games, which is massively important to me because I feel stronger and faster than I have been before.

When you get to that sort of 100 per cent fitness you are in the right positions to make the right decisions.

"I would say I’m enjoying it at the moment, especially because I feel good when I get the ball and I feel fresh."

The next step for Joe, of course, is to force his way into the England side and make a rare start in a competitive fixture.

The former West Ham midfielder was part of both the World Cup 2002 and Euro 2004 Finals squads but was barely given a chance to make an impact.

Now, however, Head Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has heaped praise on Cole, insisting he would have no hesitation in trusting him with a place in midfield now that he is more disciplined in his approach.

Cole said: "It gives you a boost when the manager says things like that.

"But you are always learning and it’s just a case of developing as a player and maturing as a player. It’s a natural progression. The last few months have been very good for me because since December I have played most games.

"I’ve developing as a player steadily and I’m ready to play if selected."

Much of Cole’s improvement has come since a sit-down meeting with Mourinho last November in which he discussed what was needed to improve his game.

Cole had been named man of the match at Stamford Bridge after scoring the winner against Liverpool, but was still lambasted by his manager for giving the ball away too carelessly in the final minutes as Chelsea hung on for victory.

"It wasn’t so much of a shock when he said that," admitted Cole. "It was a crucial game and when we were winning 1-0 I was a little bit indisciplined in the last 10 minutes. Something like that can ram the nail home and it’s in there now, so I know exactly what to do the next time.

"It was always constructive criticism with Jose Mourinho, though. He always explains what he wants you to do and he always makes things clear. We had a chat about the way he wanted me to play and how I could improve as a player.

And also about what he thinks I was doing well in any case. I came out of there very positive, then I got my chance and I took it. And I have been playing more or less regularly for the last few months."

Cole has performed so well that there is every chance he could step up a notch with England and start to achieve his full potential.

With Paul Scholes' retirement there is certainly a place up for grabs in the England midfield, and right now Cole is pushing towards the front of the queue.

He said: "Three positions in the midfield are nailed on with Frank Lampard, David Beckham and Stevie Gerrard and there’s one more left to go. There are lots of talented players in the country who are vying for it. It’s important that whoever gets to play on Saturday takes their chance. With Scholes retiring it has opened up a gap not just for me but for five or six people.

"Of course I want the chance because I’ve not played much competitive football for England. I have always felt I have done well when I’ve come into the team in the past without absolutely nailing my place down.

"I’ve got a chance if I play to do well this time but the main thing is that I help the team win because we need to finish the season with maximum points so we end the year top of our group.

"I have been in this position before and I don’t know what the side will be.

"But I’m here to play whether it’s for 90 minutes or one minute. It’s a pleasure to play for your country and whatever they want me to do, I’m ready to do it."

With an attitude like that the new, mature Joe Cole may just get his chance.

And if he does? Well, like that janitor he would be over the moon!