News Focus
- Cole became Cesena boss in March when the team had not won for seven matches
- The club ended the season in 11th place, missing the promotion play-offs by three points
- He tried to change Cesena’s defensive style to a more attacking, possession-based game
- The former England defender struggled with language barriers despite having Italian family ties
- Talks are ongoing about extending his contract for the next season
Ashley Cole has spoken about the difficulties of his first job as a manager at Cesena. The former Arsenal and Chelsea star took charge of the Italian club in March. He inherited a side that had gone seven games without a victory.
Cole wanted to bring a new style of football to Serie B. He moved away from the usual Italian tactics of five defenders and long balls. Instead, he asked his players to keep the ball and attack more.
The season ended with disappointment. Cesena lost their final match against Padova. This result meant they finished 11th in the table. They missed the promotion play-offs by just three points.
“The club trusted me to change the philosophy,” Cole said. He explained that the league is very defensive. Teams usually play with five at the back and counter-attack. Cole wanted his team to play on the front foot.
The 43-year-old has Italian connections through his wife. He also played for Roma between 2014 and 2016. However, he admitted that the language was still a problem. “Some players and staff do not speak English,” he said. He used the youth team coach to help him communicate.
Despite the final day defeat, Cole believes the statistics show progress. “We created the most chances in the league,” he said. “We had the most dangerous attacks.” He looks at the eight games he managed and sees improvement in almost every area.
Cole has an option to extend his contract in Cesena. He confirmed that he is talking with the club about staying. “Hopefully we can come together again and the project can continue,” he added.