Back in contention: How Ashley Cole impressed vs At. Madrid to give Mourinho a new selection headache

Ashley Cole was the man for the job as Chelsea stifled Atletico Madrid’ attack mid-week

Even for a model professional, being recalled to the starting line-up for your club’s most important game of the season after a frustrating campaign that has seen you spend the majority of your time warming the bench is a difficult proposition.

However, that is precisely the situation that Chelsea full-back Ashley Cole found himself in the thick of it at the Vicente Calderon on Tuesday night. Granted their were other sub plots within the game that made his return slip under the radar somewhat, but under the watchful gaze of the world in a Champions League semi-final, he coped superbly in difficult circumstances.

Chelsea set up to stifle Diego Simeone’s side and Jose Mourinho chose to deploy a narrow back four. Both full-backs, Cole and Cesar Azpilicueta, who has taken the Englishman’s place in the team, played very narrow, tucked in tightly with their centre-backs.

With three central midfielders that were set up to be equally compact in front of them, Cole could forward to display his attacking talent in the final third.

Ashley Cole action areas vs Atletico Madrid

However, although Cole completed just two of his five tackles, he more than held his own against Atletico Madrid’s attacking contingent. Four of his attempted tackles came in the last five minutes of the game as Atleti were threatening to score a crucial goal to tip the tie in their favour, But Cole helped his side cling on for a decent result away from home.

The 33-year-old is assured in possession as ever and completed 14 passes on the night, with three of his failures coming in the form of speculative long ball attempts. But it was difficult to judge the former Arsenal man’s creative and attacking performance during such a big occasion when his role was purely to keep things tight tactically.

Cole didn’t see the ball that much, but used it well when he had

Cole’s positional play is outstanding and last night proves that he is reliable and ready to step up when called upon despite his enforced absence throughout the campaign.

Considering he has made just 14 Premier League appearances and tow in Europe’s pinnacle club competition it is a sign of a quality player that he seamlessly slotted into Mourinho’s diligently defensive formation.

It is too early to write Cole’s club career under Mourinho off despite the Portuguese’s insistence to field Azpilicueta on his unnatural left flank. He is still well worth a place in the squad of any top team in Europe and will also realistically push for a starting berth too.

His international future is also clouded in uncertainty with Everton’s Leighton Baines now widely regarded as England’s first choice for the World Cup in Brazil, mainly due to his attacking threat. Meanwhile, Southampton youngster Luke Shaw is also vying for a place in Roy Hodgson’s squad.

Due to Cole’s lack of game time throughout the season, plenty of fans believe he does not deserve to board the plane. But with looking likely that the uninspiring Glen Johnson is set to be the only defender with World Cup experience in our squad, let alone the starting line up, can we afford to leave Cole behind?

With over a century of caps, his experience could prove to crucial. Experience cannot be bought, it is earned and Cole has passed the test of time so far. If England reach the latter stages, he would be difficult to be ignored.

Similarly, the same goes for Chelsea. If the west Londoners reach the Champions League final ask yourself this – would you rather field Ashley Cole or Cesar Azpilicueta in a 90 minute duel against one of the two best wingers in the world – Arjen Robben and Cristiano Ronaldo? There’s only one man to be trusted with the job.