Chelsea boss Ancelotti: Cole deserves greater recognition

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti insists Ashley Cole should have been among the nominees for the Ballon d'Or.

No Englishman made the shortlist for this year's award.

Ancelotti admitted: "It is always the same for defenders.

"Paolo Maldini deserved to be World Player of the Year at some stage of his career but never was.

"Usually, it is the strikers and midfielders who get these honours and the reason there are no English players on the FIFA shortlist this year is because none of the Premier League clubs reached the Champions League final and England did not do so well at the World Cup.

"I'm not surprised Ashley failed to make the list but he does not need these awards to motivate him.

"He is a very good pro and a pleasure to work with. You never have a problem with him in training or on the pitch because he is such an efficient player.

"His play last season was extraordinary. He scored goals, made assists, his defending was very good and he was able to get up and down the pitch all the time.

"And, because he only weighs 65 kilos, he has no problem running for 90 minutes and even longer."

 
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