Cole: I'm not greedy
09 Sep 2006 - 10:28:20
-
- Cole: I'm not greedy
Left-back Ashley Cole insists he did not move to Chelsea for financial reasons but so that he could win trophies.
The 25-year-old England international's controversial transfer from Arsenal to Stamford Bridge was finally completed on transfer deadline day and Cole is expected to make his Blues debut on Saturday against Charlton Athletic.
"I know full well that I'm not a greedy person. I've not come here for money," he said. "I've come here because I want to win things and I have a good chance of winning things at Chelsea."
Despite the bad feeling that developed during Cole's last few months with the Gunners, the left-back has nothing but praise for boss Arsene Wenger.
He added: "I said I'd like to leave and it was down to the Arsenal manager and the board to find a club for me.
"I wanted to go and concentrate on the World Cup, do well, and I asked them to find me a club to go to.
"Arsene was the one who mentioned Chelsea but, at one stage, I didn't think I was ever going to come here. But they sorted it out.
"I only found out it was going through on the last day, at about two in the afternoon. The manager called me and said the deal was back on. I was happy with that and now I'm happy it's all over.
"I knew what I was leaving behind. Arsene has been great to me. He's always been supportive, even up to the last days of the transfer. He's always been great for me and been on my side through everything that happened.
"When you start at a club at such a young age, you do owe the club and I owe Arsenal for giving me the chance to make it. But hopefully the fans and the manager and everybody will agree I've repaid them a bit.
"Maybe it's not enough but there's nothing I can do now. I've moved on and Arsenal is in my past."