Thursday, July 29, 2010

Cole: We Can Be Great Again

Joe Cole is convinced Liverpool are not that far away from a return to the great days after he admitted Anfield was always the hardest away ground to play at for Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League.

Liverpool's new No.10 has settled in quickly to his new surroundings and can't wait to parade his skills in front of the Kop.

"Look at all the pictures around this place and you want more of that," said Cole.

"The whole club is built on success. I can feel the hunger and the desire here, and that's a great base to come from.

"The gaffer's experience and organization are another positive and with all the quality players they have here, I am convinced we will do better than last season.

"When I had decided to leave Chelsea I didn't want to rush into a decision, you only get one career, but my first thought was Liverpool and my last thought was Liverpool. Now I want to concentrate on helping this club gets back up again.

"As soon as I walked into this place I loved it and I believe we can do something special here.

"I'm not one of those players who walks into a place and says I've always supported them, but I have always thought a lot of the supporters here.

"Liverpool was always the hardest away game in our fixtures, harder than going to Old Trafford. If we can make that the base and a fortress again, and get some points on the road, anything can happen.

"I don't want to come up here and end up going back south every day off. I want to immerse myself in the place.

"Someone once gave me the advice that when move, you should always make sure you are part of the club.

"It's a big challenge for me, but I will do that here."

At the age of 28 Cole believes his best days are yet to come and his big hope is to play a major role in helping Roy Hodgson's side get back to what Liverpool are renowned for - winning trophies.

"I left a mark at Chelsea, being part of great teams that won things, Player of the Year and stuff, and I am proud of that," he added.

"Now I want to leave my mark at a massive club like this as well - I'm really excited about it.

"I wanted to come to somewhere at the start of something and it was easy to come here because it's such a massive club. It's all pointing in the right direction."

"I want to be part of a team, a successful team. I know what a successful team's about and what an unsuccessful one is too.

"I know what it takes to win titles, all I need here is time to settle in, regular games and to get used to playing with new players.

"When you've been at a club as long as I have, coming to a new one, with a different style, takes time but we will roll on from there. It's a long process and we have to be realistic, but we are double positive."

The England international also revealed he is fully recovered from the knee ligament injury he suffered in January 2009 and wants to make up for lost time by giving his best years to Liverpool.

"Last year was tough," he added.

"I was trying to get my match fitness back and prove I should be starting, maybe trying too hard, but it just wasn't happening.

"But I still made an impact and still proud of the part I played in a difficult season. Now this is a fresh start. I just need match fitness but my body is strong.

"The important thing is getting the back to back games and just playing regularly.

"The last time I played 90 minutes was February and I need to be able to do that week in week out, and I will do that.

"Roy made it very clear he wanted me as a player and what he wanted from me. All I need is time and patience."

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