Joe Cole on FA Cup’s Importance for Stabilizing Chelsea
Joe Cole has highlighted a worrying drought at Chelsea. It has been eight years since the club last secured a domestic cup.
Cole played for Chelsea from 2003 to 2010. During that spell he won three FA Cups, two League Cups and three Premier League titles.
Recent cup history and unwanted records
After Cole left, Chelsea added FA Cup wins in 2012 and 2018, and a League Cup success in 2015. The club has not lifted a domestic cup since 2018.
Chelsea also became the first English club to lose six domestic cup finals in succession. That sequence included three FA Cup defeats and three League Cup defeats. The latest final loss came against Liverpool in the 2024 Carabao Cup.
Current season context
Chelsea did win the Conference League and the Club World Cup last season. Those trophies were the only silverware collected under the current regime so far.
In the fourth season of the ownership era that began in May 2022, the FA Cup remains the only domestic knockout prize still available. Joe Cole argues winning it would carry special significance.
This is Joe Cole on FA Cup’s Importance for Stabilizing Chelsea: he believes the trophy can help restore calm and direction at the club.
FA Cup tie and club form
Chelsea meet Port Vale in the FA Cup quarter-final at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Port Vale sit bottom of League One.
The Blues arrive with low confidence. They lost four matches in a row before the international break, a run equalled only once since the 1990s.
They have won just one of their last six Premier League matches. The slip has left Chelsea sixth in the table and their hopes of a top-five finish are in jeopardy.
Internal unrest and managerial situation
Supporters have expressed growing frustration with the hierarchy. A protest is planned before the Manchester United fixture later this month. It will be the second demonstration this year.
Liam Rosenior replaced Enzo Maresca as head coach in January. Rosenior faces scrutiny amid poor results and wavering fan faith.
Vice-captain Enzo Fernández was dropped for the Port Vale and Manchester City games. The club cited comments seen as casting doubt on his future. Fernández’s agent, Javier Pastore, called that decision “completely unfair.”
Marc Cucurella was also left out of selection earlier in the week, reportedly because of a perceived lack of experience. Rosenior said he would not have dismissed Maresca when the club did.
Joe Cole’s assessment and priorities
Cole warned that fans’ frustration stems from a shift in priorities at the club. He suggested the business approach now appears to outweigh pure footballing ambition.
He said the FA Cup carries more cultural weight than the recent international trophies. In his view, winning it would offer reassurance to supporters and leaders alike.
Cole added that if Chelsea win the FA Cup and secure Champions League qualification, the season should be judged as successful. Failure on both fronts would demand a serious review of the four-year project.
Coaching, squad and the run-in
Cole praised Rosenior as a focused and capable coach. He welcomed the international break as a chance to reassess the squad and tactics.
Chelsea have a maximum of ten fixtures left this season. Cole urged Rosenior to select players he trusts and prioritise immediate results over long-term development.
Cole Palmer and squad leaders
Cole highlighted Cole Palmer as the club’s standout player. Palmer has been managed carefully since a groin injury in September.
Joe Cole believes Palmer can still decide games even at reduced capacity. He expects Palmer to finish the campaign strongly and head to the World Cup with England.
Voices and media presence
Joe Cole, now 44, remains a regular pundit. He co-hosts the podcast Could It Be Magic? with Ashley Cole, sponsored by Carling.
