CARSON, Calif. – Ashley Cole is looking forward to getting started with the LA Galaxy yet again.
The 36-year-old left back rejoined the Galaxy earlier this week to start his second full season with the club. Despite all the change throughout the roster, Cole is once again expected to serve as the club’s first choice left back for a defense that conceded just 39 times last year.
With Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard, and A.J. DeLaGarza departing in the offseason, the Galaxy will need leadership in the locker room and in his own way, Cole is ready to provide.
“ I’m not the person to be shouting in the changing room. On the pitch, I’ll demand, but in the changing room, it’s not my kind of character," Cole told LA Galaxy Insider. "I wanted to come back and to give the youngsters some help if they needed it. I wanted to come back and enjoy the football. Last season I enjoyed and hopefully, it’s the same this season.
“When you’re enjoying something then you’re enthusiastic and enjoying it more,” Cole added. “It’s great weather and that helps the motivation and is better for the head. I’m just looking forward to playing again.”
A year ago, Cole made 26 appearances for the Galaxy in his first season with the club, notching a single goal. According to new head coach Curt Onalfo, Cole will continue to play a significant role in the team’s defense.
“Ashley is just impressive all the way through. His passion for the game comes through every day. He’s a great teammate. His information that he gives to his teammates is excellent,” Onalfo said. “The biggest asset about him is his approach on a daily basis. [On Monday], he got off a flight from Europe at 6pm and showed up the next morning all in. His professionalism and his quality are really important for the team. He leads by example.”
With the Galaxy team considerably younger under Onalfo then it had been last year, Cole's leadership style could prove invaluable to help the squad come together ahead of a challenging 2017 campaign.
“What you get with young guys is that they’re enthusiastic, they want to learn, they want to run, and they listen to you,” said Cole. “It’s a great experience for the young guys and we have a manager that wants to give them a chance. It’s down to them to prove to the manager by performing in training and hopefully they’ll get their chance.”
