Saturday 7th November 2009
Cole will be cold towards pals
Ashley Cole will delay congratulating Wayne Rooney on the birth of his son, Kai, at least until the end of the Chelsea-Manchester United showdown.
Cole will also resist calling Rio Ferdinand for a friendly chat.
Until one team is left standing at the end of the clash at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, the England squad buddies will be at war with each other.
Cole is adamant that there will be no niceties when the league leaders and runners-up face off in a must-win game for both side.
He said: "Sunday will be a huge battle and beating Manchester United would be massive. So even though some of the United players are my England team-mates, I won't be talking to them before the game.
"We're playing against rivals here. You can't treat them as friends.
"Sometimes it's difficult when you're playing against good mates. But that's the job. You must get on with it.
"It will be good to talk with them after the game - hopefully, after I've got one over on them.
"It is going to be really tense. We don't want to lose and United certainly don't. Going five points clear of United at this stage of the season would be a huge psychological advantage for us.
"Everyone says it but if you finish above United you're going to win the League. That is our aim."
Cole believes Man United will have to deal with Didier Drogba, who can be a handful in the penalty area.
The in-from hitman has hit a rich vein of form and has score 12 goals in this campaign, with two in Tuesday's 2-2 Champions League stalemate with Atletico Madrid. Cole added: "Didier is on fire at the moment.
"He's strong, powerful and everything you serve up to him he'll finish."
Cole also has added motivation to win the Premier League this season.
The left-back is attempting to become the first England international to win the league with two separate clubs.
Cole, who won the BPL title with Arsenal in 2002 and 2004, continued: "Everything is in place for us to do it this season.
"But you can't allow your performance to drop against anyone. We certainly won't let it against United."
Join us on Facebook