Chelsea travelled to Denmark for their Champions League group stage match, which they convincingly won with Cole playing the full 90 minutes. Subsequently, Chelsea prepared to host Manchester United the following Tuesday. Meanwhile, journalists from the News of the World were preoccupied with a potential “bombshell.”
The content disseminated by this newspaper was later echoed in subsequent Sunday editions, and the club ultimately issued a concise statement the next morning: “We have thoroughly investigated the matter and are taking appropriate action. We will refrain from further comment as this is an internal matter.”
The subsequent press conference of the club was packed to capacity. Numerous film crews and photographers were present, jostling for prime positions. Ancelotti’s authoritative demeanor was evident from the outset, catching the attention of the crowd. He was escorted by the club’s media officer into the room.
Everyone present knew the primary topic of discussion – the impending clash with Manchester United, a subject previously deemed peripheral. “We have issued a statement and will not elaborate further on it,” Ancelotti asserted, referencing the 24-word confirmation posted on their official website the previous day.
The television networks were given precedence during Chelsea’s pre-match press conference. Would Cole be available for the upcoming match against Manchester United? Was he in a stable condition? Ancelotti promptly affirmed the left-back’s presence in the squad and addressed how the player felt remorseful following the firearm incident.
“He made a mistake. It was an accident. But tomorrow, he will play. In everyday life, someone might be dismissed for shooting a colleague at work. But did that happen to Ashley Cole? Our answer is NO. He is our player, and Cole has always conducted himself admirably here.”
He acknowledged his mistake and expressed remorse for it. Now, we must proceed. When a player says, “I apologize, I have made a mistake,” that should be sufficient. There are rules here, and players must respect them. If a player crosses the line, we will make a decision.”
And so, everything unfolded as such. Cole apologized to Cowan and the club. He was not deemed to have tarnished the club’s image. And there is no need to speculate on what could have happened if Cole had injured a teammate rather than an intern because that did not occur.
There were a total of nine questions, primarily focusing on Cole, with the final one being rather pointed. “So he won’t be dismissed just because he’s a star, correct?” The club’s media team and Ancelotti began to lose patience with this question, opting to shift the focus onto their opponent, Manchester United.
“Cole has character, but he is not violent. I think it was an accident. The mistake was the gun appearing at Cobham. We didn’t know there was a gun here. He made a mistake. Who among us hasn’t made mistakes in life?” Ancelotti posed a counter-question, aiming to put an end to any inquiries regarding the .22-caliber air rifle and lead pellets.
However, a series of questions regarding the dressing room emerged afterward. Do the players have complete control at this club? If the dressing room is not under control, as the head coach, is he responsible for such unruly behavior? Is he angry with Cole? How does he still praise Cole as a great player after this incident? Does the club have measures in place to prevent similar occurrences?
In a previous statement, I emphasized my reluctance to exert control over players outside the training ground. This stance remains true; however, should any incidents occur during training sessions, intervention becomes necessary. Nevertheless, asserting that Cobham is currently lacking control is entirely erroneous. With twenty years of coaching experience, my foremost principle is discipline.
To maintain discipline, adherence to regulations is imperative. Ashley Cole, for instance, committed an error. When he apologized, what course of action should we take? Punishment? Certainly not. Support is warranted. However, if an apology is not forthcoming, if there is no remorse, then intervention becomes necessary. Is that the end of it? Ancelotti queries.
For Cole, this represents a punctuation mark in another challenging week. His primary concern lies with Ancelotti’s remarks to the press. Upon learning of the manager’s composed reactions, he finds a measure of solace. Now, patience is required as the tide of dissent settles.
The Surrey Police investigation concluded prematurely, with authorities “satisfied that no firearms-related law violations occurred in relation to ownership and usage.” While they conducted an inspection at Cobham, they ultimately offered “strong advice” regarding the incidents in hopes of preventing recurrence.
Cole was consistently fielded in the latter part of the season as Chelsea underwent a resurgence following a mid-season slump, ultimately finishing as runners-up. Manchester United clinched the title while also eliminating Chelsea from the Champions League quarter-finals. Ancelotti was dismissed immediately following the defeat in the 38th round.
Ashley Cole briefly addressed the matter in a 2011 interview conducted by the BBC, stating, “I made a mistake and have to live with it. I only hope people will judge me more on my footballing aspects rather than my private life. The gun incident was purely an accident.”
Clearly, this incident did not have a lasting negative impact on Cole’s relationship with the club. After departing Chelsea in 2014, Cole returned to work with the club’s academy two years ago to coach the U15 team. His presence is believed to have played a part in their signing of Ben Chilwell from Leicester for £50 million.
Meanwhile, student Cowan completed his internship at Cobham and graduated with an A grade in Sports Science and Exercise Physiology. He has since become an exercise physiologist, specializing in prescribing exercise routines for cancer and cardiovascular patients. He regards his time at Chelsea as a pivotal period in his development.