BIG PETE: Cole on his coaching beginnings at Chelsea, his role models, and the legacy of Wenger’s philosophy

[embed guid="5787ab26-13fb-4221-a5f1-af9f34c98ea6" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrGEUNiPlko" social-type="youtube" /][p]The idea of coaching only came to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cole-ashley/4n2tT7Wi/"]Cole[/a] towards the end of his playing career at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-galaxy/U3ebh62R/"]LA Galaxy[/a]. Starting out with Chelsea’s U15 and U16 squads meant stepping out of his comfort zone and gaining his first real coaching experience. [b]"I had experience from the coaches I played under, but that alone isn’t enough for success. I knew what I wanted to take from them, but I didn’t know how to pass it on to the players in the right way. I first had to find myself in the role of a coach."[/b][/p][p]Throughout his career, he learned from greats like José Mourinho, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ancelotti-carlo/nZQG5IgJ/"]Carlo Ancelotti[/a], and Guus Hiddink, but when working with youth, he focused mainly on psychology and an individual approach. [b]"I enjoy getting to know my players and finding out what motivates them and what helps them perform at their best,"[/b] he explained in an interview with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cech-petr/fTjQ34vo/"]Petr Čech[/a]. He considers understanding each player’s personality and finding a way to bring out the best in them to be key.[/p][p]His overall philosophy was most shaped by Arsene Wenger, who gave players freedom and taught them independence directly on the pitch. [b]"I let the game itself be the teacher. Wenger trusted his players to play with freedom and make the right decisions, without punishing them by benching them for taking risks."[/b][/p][p][i]The full TV version of this episode of the Big Pete documentary series will be available on CANAL+ Sport and the CANAL+ streaming service in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, France, Poland, Myanmar, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Romania, and Hungary, and on SuperSport in South Africa and Switzerland.[/i][/p]