Source: Telegraph
Carlo Ancelotti says Joe Cole will be staying at Chelsea ahead of Preston FA Cup tie
John Terry was the first Chelsea stalwart to be tempted by entreaties from Eastlands, before eventually being persuaded to stay put. Now Cole, out of the starting line-up for Saturday's trip to Preston, has been linked to a move to City after talks stalled over his demands for a wage hike to £130,000-a-week and for regular first-team selection. [LNB]The England winger's contract runs out at the end of the season, encouraging interest from City, Tottenham and Manchester United, but Ancelotti insisted the 28 year old would not be leaving Chelsea — while refusing to assure Cole of a starting place. [LNB]'I cannot guarantee to Joe Cole that he'll play for Chelsea in every game,' the Italian said. 'I never guarantee that to my players, even the big players. That's impossible. I don't have any news on his contract. He will stay at Chelsea next year. I'm 100 per cent clear. [LNB]'It's my aim. It's the aim of the club to keep him in the squad because Joe Cole is an important player, a very professional player. He has a lot of quality and is young. He is a player of the national team, he is English. For these reasons, we want to keep him.' [LNB]The manager has no intention, though, of keeping Cole in the frame at Preston — or fellow winger Florent Malouda, with Juliano Belletti and Deco expected to start on the flanks instead. [LNB]There was a setback to Chelsea's championship tilt as Ancelotti confirmed that Michael Essien, who has returned from the African Cup of Nations in Angola due to medial ligament damage, would need at least four weeks to recover. The 27-year old misses both the crucial title match at home to Arsenal and the first leg of their Champions League second-round match against Inter Milan. [LNB]'He had a tear in his meniscus and has to stay out for four to six weeks,' said Ancelotti, who must hope that Essien's knee responds to intensive treatment. 'I hope four, but maybe six. In January, Essien wasn't going ot here anyway because he was in Africa. It's not good news, but I think that we will do a good job again.' [LNB]
