Michael Emenalo has shared that one Chelsea legend played a sizeable chunk of games for the club during his playing career with a bad injury.
Michael Emenalo, the former Chelsea technical director, worked at Stamford Bridge during a golden era for the club.
He spent a 10-year spell with the Blues after joining them in 2007, first in both scouting and coaching departments. Afterwards, he operated as the technical director from 2011 onwards until his departure in 2017.
There’s been so many Chelsea legends throughout the club’s history, particularly in the 21st century. We’ve now just heard an interesting fact about one of them.
Ashley Cole played through injury
Emenalo has made the interesting revelation that Chelsea icon Ashley Cole played with a bad ankle problem for years that most people were unaware of.
Speaking on The Obi One podcast, Emenalo said: “Ashley Cole, one of my favourite players. John will tell you one of the biggest professionals you can find. He played with a really bad ankle, people didn’t know, for years.”
Chelsea supporters are going to love legendary figure Cole even more after the story above.
The retired left-back, who won nine major trophies during eight years as a Blues player, is without doubt one of the club’s greatest defenders in history.
He played with total commitment whenever he stepped on a football pitch, so stories of him playing through injuries and pain is not overly surprising.
Current left-backs at Chelsea
We doubt that we’ll ever see a left-back in Chelsea colours in the same league as Cole, someone that’s gone down as a world-class full-back in the sport.
However, the Blues can be pretty pleased with their current options at left-back.
Marc Cucurella, who’s enjoyed a renaissance in form during 2024, is thriving in the starting XI as the left-sided defender. Meanwhile, Renato Veiga has impressed since his summer arrival to provide an excellent alternative option.
For now, Ben Chilwell is still at the club and finds himself down the pecking order. Let’s hope the Champions League winner gets a move in the New Year because he’s too good to be constantly watching from the sidelines. Journalist Simon Phillips recently claimed via Substack that Crystal Palace are one of the most serious suitors in the Chilwell race.
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