Jose Mourinho has insisted Ashley Cole has the right attitude to win back his starting place at Chelsea.
The England left-back has been left out of the Portuguese’s starting eleven in recent weeks, with Mourinho instead turning to right-back Cesar Azpilicueta – but the Chelsea manager insists the decision has not been down to injury, or Cole’s mentality.
"Ashley is a top professional," Mourinho said.
"He just needs time to recover 100% and put himself at the top of his game and to fight to have his position.
"He's not the kind of personality you need to leave on the bench to send him a message to him to make him realise that he has to give more. No way."
Cole started for England in Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat by Germany but had to be replaced by Kieran Gibbs on 53 minutes due to a niggling rib problem.
Ashley Cole reflects on winning 100 caps for England.
And while giving no indication that Cole would be back in the starting line-up for Chelsea’s Saturday evening visit to West Ham, Mourinho was adamant that the 32-year-old’s fitness was not a major concern.
"He is not injured,” he insisted. “He feels pain. He has not a broken rib any more. He is in condition to play football.
"He has a little bit of pain. It's a limitation. Can he sprint 100%? Maybe not. Can he jump 100%? Maybe not. But he's not injured."
"I was speaking a few weeks ago to a top tennis player and he told me it's very rare he plays a game 100%," Mourinho added.
"He always has something: one day a finger, another day the back, another the ankle. He's almost never feeling absolutely top.
"It's the same for football players. He (Cole) has pain at this moment.
"He coped with it at a certain level. He's ready to go and to play. But he has a little limitation."
