Cole eyeing European success

Cole: Targeting Champions League success

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Ashley Cole believes the UEFA Champions League offers Chelsea with the best chance of silverware this season - but they need stability to win trophies on a consistent basis.

Despite a battling 2-1 home win over Wigan on Saturday, the Blues still trail Manchester United by seven points in the Premier League, having played a game more.

While he would never throw in the towel, Cole is realistic enough to know that it will now be very difficult to catch a side which is grinding out results.

He told the News of the World: "We're never going to give up on the league but I think it's unlikely for United to drop that number of points when they're grinding out results and playing really well. I think it will be the Champions League."

Cole firmly believes that the Blues can once again get to the final of Europe's elite competition, where they lost on penalties last year to the Red Devils.

Luck

"Of course, you need a bit of luck but everybody said we wouldn't get there last year and we got there, so if we just keep grinding out results and playing well then hopefully we'll be in the final again," he said.

But Cole believes the key to winning trophies on a consistent basis is to have stability at the club.

Sir Alex Ferguson's long tenure at Old Trafford contrasts markedly with the managerial changes at Stamford Bridge, where there has been four bosses in 17 months - Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari and now Guus Hiddink.

Cole added: "You look at Man United - they've had the same manager for a long time and won things consistently.

"I do feel we need a bit of stability. But as a player you can't do anything about that.

"You've got to go out there - whether it's for a manager or a caretaker manager - and try and do your best, try to do it for the club."

The England defender revealed that he will miss playing under Scolari after the Brazilian's shock sacking, saying: "He let me have the freedom of the wing and I seem to be playing as well as I have for Chelsea.

Friend

"So I was happy with that. I'm going to miss Scolari. He helped me a lot. He was more of a friend as well, which was good for me.

"He was a good man and the players liked him. He did really well for the club but it was time for a change. Now it's going to be a bit different but I'm here in a team, it's not just about myself."

But he believes new boss Hiddink is similar to Scolari in his man management, saying: "They are both nice guys - not just about football but about your life.

"They treat you more like a man - it's not just football, football, football.

"Scolari was a father figure, which was good as well. Hiddink speaks to the young players a lot, helps them through and gives them confidence.

"You saw Michael Mancienne come in against Juventus and do well. He's good for young players and he's a funny guy and seems to get on with all the lads.

"He seems to know what he's doing. Bosingwa and I have to stay back a bit more now and defend as a unit and maybe that could be the change that can change our season. I'm going to enjoy playing for him."