Ashley Cole opens up on Chelsea transfer and admits sadness over Arsenal exit – ‘I didn’t leave for no reason’

Ashley Cole opens up on Chelsea transfer and admits sadness over Arsenal exit – ‘I didn’t leave for no reason’
Ashley Cole has opened up on his acrimonious transfer to Chelsea which led to the left-back becoming a target of abuse by Arsenal supporters.Cole, 38, was an integral part of two Premier League title wins with his boyhood club, but left to join the Gunners’ London rivals in 2006 after a protracted saga.3

Jose Mourinho brought Cole to Stamford Bridge – and he turned out to be a fantastic signing

Cole was dubbed ‘Cashley’ by embittered Arsenal fans, although he enjoyed a silverware-laden spell at Stamford Bridge, winning eight trophies – including the Champions League.During his time with Chelsea Cole also established himself as one of the best defenders of his generation, and he left after eight years for Roma, and then LA Galaxy in MLS.Cole is now back in England with Championship side Derby – managed by former Chelsea and England team-mate Frank Lampard – and, speaking as a guest on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, he reflected on his Arsenal departure.He said: “I was a little bit hot-headed and didn’t realise what I was doing at the time as well but I don’t regret it. When I look back now, it was something maybe that was meant to happen.3

Arsenal supporters taunted ‘Cashley’ Cole after he left the north London club

“Of course it hurt me because I knew it wasn’t just my fault. I didn’t leave for no reason. I didn’t go to Arsene Wenger and say ‘I want to leave’. There was more to it.“It happens in football now, I’ve seen it happen to a lot of other players. It’s life, I moved on, they moved on.“I do feel sometimes a little bit sad because it was my club, I played there since I was nine. To have that ill-feeling from the fans, still, is hard sometimes.” Cole was part of England’s so-called ‘Golden Generation’ and was an ever-present in the World Cups in 2002, 2006 and 2010 as well as the European Championships in 2004 and 2012.England’s failure to win a tournament with an enviable amount of talent was widely lamented and Cole was unable to put his finger on why they flattered to deceive on the grandest stages.3

Cole was the only member of the ‘Golden Generation’ who consistently performed at an elite level

He added: “I think we were always confident going into tournaments. We had strong players in every position but it just didn’t happen for us. It’s too hard to put a stamp on a reason why we didn’t.“It’s something I’ll definitely look back on and wonder why we didn’t but I think a lot of ex-players and players that were in and around the squad, we couldn’t put our finger on it. Maybe other teams were better than us.”

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Ashley Cole opens up on Chelsea transfer and admits sadness

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Ashley Cole believes Manchester City star Raheem Sterling is an 'easy target' for the media rather than being singled out for criticism because he is black. Sterling was the subject of alleged racial abuse towards the end of last year, with Chelsea suspending four supporters amid an investigation into the behaviour towards the England
Ashley Cole opens up on being booed while playing for England

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Arsenal fans' ill-feeling over Chelsea move still hard, admits Ashley Cole Ashley Cole revealed his acrimonious exit from Arsenal and the criticism he still gets from supporters of the club
Arsenal fans' ill-feeling over Chelsea move still hard

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Ashley Cole admits he's still 'hurt' by Arsenal fan hate but doesn't regret leaving club for Chelsea. The England left-back ended nine years with Arsenal in controversial fashion to join
Arsenal fans' ill-feeling over Chelsea move still hard

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What the papers say: New Real boss Jose Mourinho wants Chelsea pair Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole, Fabio Capello casts doubt on England future and Joe Cole set to join Arsenal

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Ashley Cole opens up on being booed while playing for England - and says Raheem Sterling is now being targeted because he is black Ashley Cole spoke to ITV for a new documentary about England's
Ashley Cole admits to being "naive and stupid" when he left

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Arsenal fans' ill-feeling over Chelsea move still hard, admits Ashley Cole Ashley Cole revealed his acrimonious exit from Arsenal and the criticism he still gets from I didn't leave for no
Raheem Sterling: Manchester City forward is 'definitely NOT

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I didn't leave for no reason. Ashley Cole's combined Arsenal and Chelsea XI features no Bergkamp or Ljungberg. Man Utd open transfer talks with Real Madrid over £150m Paul Pogba sale.
Ashley Cole admits he's still 'hurt' by Arsenal fan hate but

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Ashley Cole has given rare insight into his infamous Arsenal departure and admitted he was "naive and stupid" at the time. The left-back wrote in his autobiography that he nearly crashed his car when he discovered Arsenal were only willing to pay him £55,000 a week.
What the papers say: New Real boss Jose Mourinho wants

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Ashley Cole opens up on Chelsea transfer and admits sadness over Arsenal exit - 'I didn't leave for no reason' The left-back was dubbed 'Cashley' by Arsenal supporters following his move
Ashley Cole opens up on Chelsea transfer and admits sadness
sportsalert.org/2019/02/05/ashley-cole-opens-up-on-chelsea-transfer-and-admits-sadness-over-arsenal-exit/
'It's life' The left-back was dubbed 'Cashley' by Arsenal supporters following his move to the club's London rivals Ashley Cole has opened up on his acrimonious transfer to Chelsea which led to the left-back becoming a target of abuse by Arsenal supporters.
Ashley Cole says Chelsea transfer 'wasn't my fault' as he