|Get close to Joe Cole|
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Chelsea and England star Joe Cole couldn't stop talking in our recent forum.
He explained his tricks, the nicknames for his team-mates and who's got the worst music taste in the England team!
When did you start playing?
I always had a football at my feet when I was young and grew up playing football.
Everywhere I went I would have a football and my mates and I were always having kickarounds.
How did you learn your tricks and have you got any tips on how to practise them?
The tricks just come to me naturally, but I was always practising and trying new things.
Some would work well, others not so well, but I kept on practising. The only real tip I can give is practice and try new skills.
What has been the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?
To enjoy every moment of every game
Do you ever say anything to players as you go past them with a silky trick or two?
If they are a friend of mine I might mention it after the game or remind them of it when we meet up and have a bit of banter.
I wouldn't say anything in a game as it is disrespectful to the opposition and also it means I would not be concentrating fully on the game.
Have you thought of playing in countries like Italy or Spain, where they build teams around skilful players, rather than worry about how to fit them into a side?
Yes I have thought about it and it is a possibility later on in my career, but I am very happy at Chelsea and hope to help the club win many trophies.
Hopefully next season! Chelsea is a great club to be at and being in the Champions League allows you to play against the best side and players in the world.
How often do you train and what type of training do you do?
I train every day. I like training with the team as there are so many top players at Chelsea and you can always learn new skills from each other.
We work on team play and also on fitness. I also do extra training on my own. You have to be prepared to work as hard as you can, looking to learn and improve.
You train every day with lots of foreigners - have you picked up any new languages?
I have learnt the basic languages of all the foreign players - it makes it easier to communicate and understand each other in training and also when we play a game.
Is there a move called the Joe Cole? I had an English friend show me a trick he said you did during a U-21 England match.
And as soon as you did it the coach took you off the field and asked you what you just did. Is this true?
I am not sure how I do my tricks! It sounds corny but they just come to me naturally. I don't plan to do a trick - it just happens in the game.
I've been asked by coaches how I have done a certain trick and although I can show them the trick, it is much harder to explain it to them!