Without Robben, Chelsea was less of a threat to Tang En. Otherwise, this game would have been difficult for him. The Forest team's offense mainly depended on the flanks. If Chelsea had had Arjen Robben, the Forest team's attacks from the flanks would be suppressed. But now...
Joe Cole was not really a left midfielder. His placement in the left midfielder position was due to a lack of a better option; if such a gifted athlete were to play as a replacement, the player himself and the fans would certainly not agree to it. However, if he wanted to have his first public showing on the team, he could not be in the middle of the midfield, because that area belonged to Lampard and Makelele. Therefore, Joe Cole only had two options: warming a seat in the substitutes' bench, and sucking it up to play for a position that was unfit for him so that he could make an appearance in the game. He chose the latter.
