Chelsea Boss Jose Mourinho Reveals Loss Of Faith In Ashley Cole!

JOSE MOURINHO has delivered a major blow to Ashley Cole by revealing he feared the England star could have been exposed by Arsenal tonight.

RAW DEAL: Mourinho doesn't think that Cole would be able to handle Arsenal's attacking pace and creativity [STUART ROBINSON]

Cole will not face his former club in the crunch clash, with Mourinho continuing to play Cesar Azpilicueta out of position at left-back.

And Chelsea boss Mourinho cast a big doubt over Cole – who he has refused to say if he will even be on the bench – by insisting the Spanish right-back was better equipped to deal with the threat of Theo Walcott, Mesut Ozil and Tomas Rosicky.

NEW KID IN TOWN: Azpilicueta has made the left-back position his own in recent times [CHELSEA FC/PA]

“In this moment Azpi’s playing better,” said Mourinho.

“He is showing me he’s physically better, very strong.

“I don’t remember one defensive positional mistake from Azpi.

“When we’re going to face people like Mesut coming from the right, or Walcott making diagonal runs, or Rosicky attacking defenders with the ball at his feet, I’d want Azpi to go.”

The lack of Premier League action for Cole, 33, who last played in the league in the November 2 defeat at Newcastle, puts a big question mark over his World Cup prospects.

OUT THE DOOR: De Bruyne is set to leave Chelsea after failing to impress Mourinho [GETTY]

Mourinho insisted Cole would not be allowed to leave in next month’s transfer window – but as Starsport revealed on Friday, Kevin De Bruyne looks set to return to Germany.

The Belgium midfielder was recalled after an impressive year on loan at Werder Bremen, but has failed to impress the Portuguese coach.

“We are analysing the situation,” said Mourinho.

“The market is open until the 31 January, and we are not going to make a decision on 1 January