Our Favorite Ashley Cole Moments At Chelsea FC – Pride Of London Staff

Taylor Anderson, Staff Writer

May 23, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; Manchester City midfielder Albert Rusnak (55) controls the ball as Chelsea defender Ashley Cole (3) defends at Busch Stadium. Manchester City defeated Chelsea 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

My favorite memory of Ashley Cole in a Chelsea uniform is easily taken from the 2012 Champions League Final. After 120 minutes, the score was still level between Chelsea and Bayern Munich at the Allienz Arena in Munich. The Blues would take Bayern to penalties, a fitting end to a season in which the Blues were never really contenders in England and squeaked through to the Champions League Final by the skin of their teeth, primarily off the momentum of overturning a 3-1 away defeat against Napoli.

After Bayern went ahead, Didier Drogba scored off a rocket of a header to tie it up, Petr Cech saved a penalty in extra time, and Chelsea were still level. Up came penalties. Juan Mata had his first attempt saved, David Luiz scored a rocket of a penalty, Super Frank Lampard coolly took his and then up stepped Ashley Cole.

Everyone knows the English association with losing matches on penalties, and yet England’s best left back stepped up to the line and calmly fired his shot past Manuel Neur. Chelsea were ahead, with a penalty for each team left. Bastien Schweinsteiger’s penalty was tipped onto the bar, and Didier Drogba delivered the Cup to Chelsea fans with his final kick for the club.

Without Ash’s clutch penalty, our fortunes may have been forever reversed. Asked about the fabled myth of Germans and penalties (It’s said that Germans never lose on penalties) Ashley Cole was quick to reply “they do now!” with a smirk before jogging off to celebrate with his teammates.
Ashley Cole will always be a legend at Chelsea to me, and I wish him all the best in the future.