Former Premier League great won't be like Mourinho: I lack his status | OneFootball

Living his first experience as a head coach with Cesena, after several years as an assistant in England, former player Ashley Cole lamented the "lack of opportunities" in His Majesty’s land, stressing that in the future "he will not be a José Mourinho" - who continues to trust the red pair.

"I’m not going to be a José Mourinho, I don’t have that status or that respect because I haven’t won anything yet. Carlo Ancelotti is measured and calm - and he was a successful player and coach - so I can’t be like him either", he began by saying in an interview with the BBC.

Putting certain comparisons aside, Ashley Cole promised to focus on what really matters: "I can’t be a Rafa Benítez either. I have to take a little from each of them, be myself, trust my process and focus on Cesena. I want to work and I hope that, one day, I can win a trophy."

Explaining his decision to coach Cesena, in Italy’s second division, the former England international said: "I was starting to get a little discouraged by the lack of opportunities at clubs in England that I had been in contact with."

In closing, Ashley Cole highlighted what is important to bear in mind as a coach at the start of his career: "They like to use the argument that I have no experience. And I reply: 'I understand what you’re saying and I agree, but how am I going to gain experience? That’s the battle we have to fight when we’ve been assistants for six or seven years. We have to take a leap of faith, but a club also has to take that leap."

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.