Cole hails 'best' season

31 May 2009 15:15
Ashley Cole feels the 2008/09 campaign has been his most productive as a Chelsea player. The England international struggled to find his best form upon his arrival at Stamford Bridge from Arsenal in 2006. A niggling ankle injury prevented him from displaying the attacking instincts which had made him one of the world's most complete full-backs during his days with the Gunners. He played through the pain barrier throughout his first two seasons at Chelsea, while he also turned out at the 2006 World Cup well short of full fitness. Surgery has helped to cure the problem, though, and Cole has looked more like his buccaneering self of late. He was named the Blues' player of the season by his team-mates for his efforts throughout last term, while he rounded off the campaign in the best possible manner by entering the record books as the first man in over a century to win five FA Cup winners' medals. "I can run again because I have no pain in my ankle," Cole said in the aftermath of Chelsea's 2-1 Cup final victory over Everton on Saturday. "I had an operation and they took a piece of my bone away that was floating in my ankle. "I did it at Arsenal but I didn't want to come to Chelsea and have the operation straight away. It did affect me and I shouldn't have done it. There were times when I didn't enjoy it. "But I knew that once the ankle was better, I would be able to run. The manager (Jose Mouirnho) wanted me to attack, but I couldn't do it. I played in the World Cup with it and I just wanted the injury finished. Now I feel really fit. "This season though has been the best I've had in the Premier League. Now I am playing with a smile on my face and as a player I think I've improved."

Source: SKY_Sports