'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Ashley Cole has not appeared in a league match for Chelsea since the victory over Hull on January 11th.
Jose Mourinho has thrown Ashley Cole’s future at Chelsea into further doubt by refusing to confirm that the England international will receive first-team football at Stamford Bridge for the remainder of the season, reports BBC Sport.
The left-back is out of contract in the summer and has made just 13 appearances for the Blues this term, mainly due to emergence of Cesar Azpilicueta as unexpected competition for his place in the team.
Trending
Doubts have also surfaced as to whether Cole will be part of Roy Hodgson’s World Cup if he fulfils the role of a bit part player while the likes of Leighton Baines and Kieran Gibbs perform week in week out for their respective teams.
The former Arsenal man has grown frustrated with his lack of opportunities and even aimed a thinly veiled dig at his boss on Twitter earlier in the season.
When asked if the 33-year-old would be afforded game to bluntly replied, “I don’t know. I’m happy with the way Azpilicueta is performing.”
The Portuguese seems to have chosen the Spaniard as his first choice, but Mourinho does not believe this will hinder Cole’s chances of going to Brazil with England to build on his 106 caps for the Three Lions.
“I cannot think of national teams at the same time as thinking about my team. There are national team managers that are very clear: they go with their players.
“It doesn’t matter if their players are playing in the club, if they are not playing, they go with their players. All these years as a club manager, I found lots of them like this,” Mourinho declared.
As one Chelsea’s established senior players, Mourinho has sent a clear message to his squad that no-one is assured of a place in the team and Cole now looks destined for not only the Stamford Bridge exit, but also a quiet summer.
Ashley Cole has not appeared in a league match for Chelsea since the victory over Hull on January 11th.
