Ashley Cole says he used to find one Manchester United player ‘so annoying’ to play against

Former Arsenal and Chelsea defender Ashley Cole has named a Manchester United player he didn’t like to play against because he found him ‘so annoying’.

A lot has changed since the days Ashley Cole competed against Manchester United.

Renowned as one of the best left-backs to ever play in the Premier League, Cole represented Arsenal and Chelsea at a time United dominated English football under the leadership of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Cole’s ability was recently praised by Paul Scholes on a podcast where he suggested Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was one of the few players he had seen cause trouble for Cole on the pitch, although Cristiano Ronaldo may have something to say about that.

Cole also spent time at AS Roma and LA Galaxy before turning to England in 2019 for a short spell at Derby County.

Despite playing in Italy and the United States, Cole’s fiercest battles came in the Premier League, especially against United.

Gary Neville annoyed Ashley Cole more than other players

Cole faced United in 33 matches throughout his career from his spells at Arsenal and Chelsea.

The respected former left-back won 12 of those matches, drew 6 and lost a total of 15 as United came out on top more times than not.

More United News

This helps highlight how dominant United were under Ferguson.

Perhaps the biggest blow for Cole was losing the 2008 Champions League final against United in Moscow. The former England international won three Premier League titles but never lifted the European Cup.

Speaking to Premier League Productions, Cole revealed that he feels Gary Neville was underappreciated, especially in terms of getting forward as a full-back.

“He could work in all areas of the pitch,” Cole said. “I don’t think he gets as much credit going forwards.

“I’m not saying he’s an attacking full-back, but he wasn’t a slouch.”

“I’m not going to swear mate, but he was so annoying, he used to do my head in, but I probably did his head in as well.”

When asked what Neville was like to play against, Cole added that he was “so annoying” and used to do his head in.

“I’m not going to swear mate, but he was so annoying, he used to do my head in, but I probably did his head in as well.”

Gary Neville explains bust-up with Ashley Cole

Neville previously claimed that Cole screamed in his face after a bust-up in the tunnel, after he had been unfairly targeted by former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira, who was later told to pick on someone his own size by Roy Keane.

It was a famous row that happened when United and Arsenal were often head-to-head competing for Premier League titles.

Speaking about the incident and how Cole got involved, Neville told the Stick to Football podcast about a heated exchanged with his former England teammate: “The tunnel game at Arsenal – they were so fired up before the game. Arsenal scored the first goal – it was 4-2, we [Manchester United] won in the end.

“I’m literally sat next to Ashley Cole in the dressing room for England, for 6,7,8 years, and Ash comes up to me screaming in my face, you f******, after they score the first goal.”

He added: “Cole – the most placid – brilliant lad, I’m like, ‘What the f***’? A couple of weeks later, you’re literally sat there next to him shaking hands. There was so much going on!”

Click here to read article