'Little brother' Cole grows into vital role in Chelsea's family

Last season it was Blackburn Rovers on 2 February, this time it seems like victory over Manchester City on Wednesday, more than one month earlier, could take centre-stage in defining their season.

Like the battle of Ewood Park, fought in swirling rain and bitter cold against an uncompromising enemy, the triumph in east Manchester had all the makings of another heroic performance. As the temperatures dipped towards -4C, Frank Lampard went in for the warm-up and never returned because of a virus, Manchester City's Joey Barton applied himself in midfield and Chelsea were forced to scrap for a victory that moved Mourinho to some pseudo-spiritual musings upon the "power of a group of friends who are ready for anything".

A win that opened up an 11-point lead was not, Mourinho said, about the "power of money" but even he would have to acknowledge that the £6.6m Claudio Ranieri spent on Joe Cole is proving useful indeed. The England midfielder also figured in Chelsea's famous victory over Blackburn in February but not in particularly happy circumstances: he replaced the injured Arjen Robben after 11 minutes but was substituted himself after another 67 and headed straight down the tunnel in disgust at Mourinho's decision.

That time Mourinho made his move just to shore up victory but it was another reminder to England's Little Joe that he, not to mention his personal pride, were both a dispensable part of the Chelsea machine. Not any more. Against Manchester City on Wednesday night it was Robben who Mourinho hauled off, not the man who he currently regards as "untouchable" and who rewarded his manager with the winning goal.

Cole has 14 goals for Chelsea since Boxing Day last year, as well as the winner for England against Wales in the World Cup qualifier in September, and he has seen off the immediate challenge of Shaun Wright-Phillips - who could not even get on the substitutes' bench for the trip to his former home - for both club and country. "I'm enjoying my football at the minute," Cole said. "I've always said that as long as I'm playing I can show what I can do. I'm happy as long as I'm out there with the lads playing games. I've always been one to take criticism and praise in the same way, trying to stay level-headed. I just want to keep playing because when you're in, things fall for you like they did [against City], balls dropping for you in the six-yard box. I won't get overexcited by any praise, likewise by any criticism.

"Part of the reason I've improved is Chelsea, the manager and everyone at the club. Part of it is myself and the other part is my family. Things are going really well at the minute and you can't put your finger on one thing that's turned it around. It's a combination of everything. I love the club, I love playing for them and we're all having the time of our lives."

Whether the Portuguese midfielder Maniche comes as part of a loan deal or in a more permanent capacity next month it will not be as a threat to Cole, whose performance against Manchester City seemed all the more symbolic for coming in a game in which Lampard did not figure.

He has played the eager little brother to Lampard and John Terry since he joined the club but at 24 he now looks to have a reputation, and a position all of his own.

"I've felt established for a long time now, people keep telling me 'you're established, you're established', but I've been more or less a regular for the last 12 months, playing more than less and playing well for the best side in the country," Cole said. "I just want to get on with my football. I don't want to be a huge star and just want to play for Chelsea.

"You never trust football and things can change dramatically. I just want to keep my feet on the floor and be part of the team. As long as I'm playing I'll be enjoying my football. It's the best I've ever played, certainly professionally, because if you look at it I'm playing for Chelsea who are the champions, top of the league and still in the Champions' League. And I'm playing well for them, which is really good."

Defeating Manchester City and opening up an 11-point lead over Manchester United at the top of the Premiership was, Cole said, one of those nights that his team-mates would "look back on at the end of the season". It was, he added, "one of the most important ones, similar to Blackburn away last season. They were probably the best team we have played, organisation-wise, all season".

There was no order from Mourinho, as there was after victory that night at Ewood Park, to toss their shirts into the crowd in triumph and judging by the change in Cole's fortunes it was just as well: in his kind of form, every memento is worth keeping.