Chelsea training row: Remembering when Claude Makelele two-footed Ashley Cole before 2008 Champions League final

Chelsea training row: Remembering when Claude Makelele two-footed Ashley Cole before 2008 Champions League final
Chelsea fans were stunned yesterday when video footage emerged of an apparent training ground bust-up between David Luiz and Gonzalo Higuain just a day before their Europa League final against Arsenal.Luiz appeared to elbow his team-mate, sparking a furious reaction from both Higuain and Maurizio Sarri, who stormed down the tunnel shortly afterwards.Twitter4

Gonzalo Higuain and David Luiz appeared to clash in training on Tuesday

But the incident was absolutely nothing, in terms of seriousness, compared to when Claude Makelele almost ended Ashley Cole’s career before the 2008 Champions League final in Moscow.With the Blues training at the Luzhniki Stadium ahead of their showdown with Manchester United, Makelele and Cole contested a 50/50 ball.  Chelsea’s former midfield destroyer, famous for taking absolutely no prisoners, made no exception for his team-mate – despite Cole preparing to mark Cristiano Ronaldo the next day.Makelele lunged at speed and crashed into the left-back’s ankle with both feet, leaving him rolling around in agony.Cole took the whole thing rather well to his credit, accepting the Frenchman’s apology almost immediately, even though it nearly ruled him out of the final.Chelsea TV4

Makelele lunges at Cole during a training game

Chelsea TV4

The Frenchman caught Cole’s standing leg

In the end, Cole recovered and scored a penalty as the Blues infamously lost the shootout to United.He recently recalled the saga on Chelsea TV: “We went in for a 50/50, he’s gone over the ball and smashed my ankle to pieces.Chelsea TV4

Cole was in serious pain following the challenge

“I was up until 5 o’clock in the morning with injections, I had five injections.“It was touch-and-go if I was going to play. But I got through it, played, and scored a penalty.“I am a little bit weary these days, building up to the game. I take it easy!”

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