Ashley Cole to miss League Cup match with injury

Chelsea will be missing both Branislav Ivanovic and Fernando Torres to suspension for the League Cup clash against Manchester United on Wednesday, but the red-carded due won't be the only players missing the match, Roberto di Matteo has now confirmed that Ashley Cole will be out of the game with a 'swollen ankle'.

Now, personally, I'd have removed Cole from eligibility from that match as punishment for his incredibly poor performance in the first half of the 3-2 loss to Manchester United, because that was perhaps the worst I've ever seen the left back play. But if I were going to do that I'd invent a some sort of injury as an excuse for him being dropped so that the press don't turn this into a big deal. For example, I would claim that Cole has a 'swollen ankle' and will be sitting out the League Cup match against Manchester United to receive 'treatment', and that Ryan Bertrand will start in his place.

Oh.