Ashley Cole has shown why he must go to the World Cup - Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho

 
Still got it: Ashley Cole dealt admirably with Liverpool players including Raheem Sterling
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 27: Ashley Cole of Chelsea and Raheem Sterling of Liverpool battle for the ball during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield on April 27, 2014 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill
Simon Johnson28 April 2014

Jose Mourinho says Ashley Cole has proved he is good enough to still be part of England’s World Cup squad this summer after his heroics at home and abroad over the past week.

England coach Roy Hodgson will name his provisional 23-man squad on May 13th and Cole’s place has severely come under threat after becoming a fringe player at Chelsea this season.

The 33-year-old, who is the most capped left back in the nation’s history with 107, lost his place in Chelsea’s first team to Cesar Azplicueta this term.

He has played only 23 times for the Blues - most of which were in the first half of the campaign - but has come in from the cold to play superbly in the 0-0 draw at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-final first leg and also in the 2-0 victory over Liverpool yesterday.

Cole faces stiff competition from Leighton Baines and Luke Shaw, who was voted in the PFA Team of the Year, for an England berth, but Mourinho feels Cole has shown his worth once again.

He said: “Ashley hasn’t played a lot this season but he has played against Atletico Madrid and Liverpool away. These matches represent 20 and Mr Roy Hodgson knows that Ashley Cole is ready for the World Cup.”

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Mourinho also singled out striker Demba Ba for praise following his performance at Anfield, where he put the visitors in front with his fifth goal in his last eight matches (all competitions).

It was just his fourth start in the League this season, but his strike took him to five for the campaign – one more than £50m forward Fernando Torres.

Mourinho added: “Demba was a giant - holding the ball, fighting strong defenders, waiting for support. He was fantastic.”

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