“I Feel Remorse for My Premier League Club Decision; I Made the Choice Under External Influence.” – Unfortunate Development Impacts Premier League Team as a Key Player Departs for a Rival Club.

Joe Cole has revealed the circumstances surrounding his exit from Chelsea in 2010 and stated that if given the opportunity, he would not have chosen to move to Liverpool.

Joe Cole has opened up about his 2010 exit from Chelsea and stated that he wouldn’t have chosen to sign with Liverpool if given the opportunity.

He admits that he would have like to continue at Chelsea, but after suffering a knee injury, he realized he was a different player, and he decided it was time to move on from Stamford Bridge to Liverpool.

“We were getting close to (contract) negotiations when I hurt my knee,” he said in a podcast interview with former teammate John Obi Mikel, “The Obi One.” “When I departed, I had just turned 29 or was almost 29.

My career likely came to an end when I suffered a knee injury because I was never the same player subsequently. I suffered injuries to my ACL, PCL, and MCL, and I missed 11 months of work.

“It wounded me, but from a business standpoint, Chelsea was correct in retrospect. When I returned, they halted the negotiations to check on me. Thus, after hurting my knee and taking a fairly firm position to negotiate a deal, Chelsea withdrew from the talks.

“Then I came back in October. Carlo (Ancelotti) had entered the club by this point. Even though I was performing well as a substitute, it was difficult for me to reintegrate into the team.

“In January, the boys traveled to the Africa Cup of Nations. I was confident that I would get to play frequently. Every game—six, seven,—that I played Once they played excellently during seven or eight games in a row, they began to say, “We can offer you this new contract.” It was not at its previous level.

“My ego became a factor, and playing football became more challenging. Every time I played, my knee would swell up, limiting my abilities. I couldn’t perform certain actions like before, and I needed an ice pack for my knee after every game, enduring a lot of pain. It’s not common to fully recover to your previous level.

“Negotiations came to a halt, but Carlo Ancelotti actually wanted me to stay. I trust Carlo because he’s a good and honest person. He said, ‘I want to play you, but Kalou and Malouda are in great form.’

“I’m reasonable enough to acknowledge when others are playing well. I wouldn’t approach the manager if they weren’t. I contributed significantly when I played; that’s why we achieved the double. Everyone played their part.

“As the season concluded, my body started failing me. In a crucial title-deciding match at Old Trafford, I started and scored. We won, but I couldn’t train for three or four days afterward. I had pushed myself too hard, and it became clear to me subconsciously that I wouldn’t return to my former self. I had to leave because I didn’t want to end my Chelsea career on the injury table.

“Reflecting on my move to Liverpool, I disclosed why I chose Anfield. However, looking back, I wish I had opted to move abroad instead.”

“I faced a decision between Liverpool and Spurs after Arsenal withdrew, and I simply couldn’t choose Spurs. It would have made sense, given Harry Redknapp’s management, a strong team, my London residence, and many friends being Spurs fans, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

“At the time, my daughter was born, and although Liverpool is a fantastic global institution, it didn’t work out for me there. If I could go back, I might have chosen to wait and then moved abroad to a warm climate since playing in the heat actually benefited my knee.

“After that decision, I played for Liverpool, West Ham, and Villa. I had a decent season in France, but I was constantly managing my knee injuries. I could still play, perform well occasionally, but never consistently as before. I never represented England after 2010.

“Later, my move to America felt like a miracle. Living in the sun, my knee improved to about 60-70%. Although it’s still not perfect, I could still play. It felt miraculous. In hindsight, I wish I had chosen to go abroad, perhaps to Spain or Southern Italy, and I believe I could have extended my top-level playing career.

“Ultimately, I wasn’t the same player after the knee injury, which is saddening, but I had a lengthy career. My only regret, beyond my control, is thinking about what could have been if I hadn’t injured my knee at Southend. I could have had another five, six, or seven years at Chelsea, possibly winning the Champions League with the team in 2012.

“Regrettably, there’s nothing I can change about it. Starting my professional football journey in the Premier League at 17, I faced considerable challenges. By the age of 29, I felt like an old car with a worn-out fan belt. The knee was gone, and by the end, I was akin to a Ford Cortina!”