Cole out to avoid Paris repeat

Blues defender wants to be a winner

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 15th May 2008

ashley cole arsenal 2006 champions league final

Cole: Despair in 2006

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Ashley Cole is determined to avoid UEFA Champions League heartache for a second time.

The Chelsea full-back was part of the Arsenal squad which fell at the final hurdle during a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Barcelona in Paris back in 2006.

The England international admits that the pain of missing out again would be hard to take, and is constantly reminded of his first failure as the winning goal two years ago was scored by Juliano Belletti, now a team-mate of Cole at Stamford Bridge.

Lucky

"Before the game, nobody expected (Arsenal) to win," Cole said.

"We had so many young players, we had a man sent off (Jens Lehmann), went 1-0 up, should have been 2-0 up, but then Belletti comes along and scores - which I hear about all the time!

"Hopefully, he'll get another one of those 'lucky' goals."

Repeat

Cole insists that the disappointment of that night in Stade de France has made him even more determined to ensure that victory is achieved over Manchester United in Moscow on 21st May.

"I don't want to be in the same situation as last time and lose," he said.

"I try not to think about (Paris) too much - but now I have got the chance to wipe all that out by getting a winners' medal this year."