Chelsea boss Ancelotti demands better from Joe Cole

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has told Joe Cole he must do better in possession.

Despite impressive performances against Sunderland and Birmingham, Ancelotti believes Cole, for all his tireless running, can get better in possession.

"I said to him that the game is 90 minutes," he said.

"One player stays on the pitch with the ball (for just) one minute. Joe, at the moment, is doing very well (for) 89 minutes. (He) misses only one minute. I asked (the players) how many times one player gets the ball on the pitch during a game. There were a lot of wrong answers. It's only one minute. I prefer to have players that move very well, without the ball, that help the team, and now Joe is doing this.

"I'm sure he will do better with the ball because he has fantastic quality. He has returned from an injury so he could have some problems with sensibility."

Cole is out of contract at the end of the season but Ancelotti insists the 28-year-old has nothing to prove.

"I said to him it's not necessary to show me, I know him very well," said the Italian.