*Chelsea 'must not lose in Spain'*
Joe Cole admits that Chelsea cannot afford to lose their Champions
League game at Valencia on Wednesday.
Chelsea drew their first match at home to Norway's Rosenborg and
the game in Valencia is their first in Europe since they split with
coach Jose Mourinho.
"We need to go out there and get the result," the midfielder
said.
"We've only got one point on the board in the Champions League so
it's a game we must not lose. We want to go home with all three
points."
Chelsea have won only one of their last six games - and that was
against Championship side Hull in the Carling Cup.
And they are a lowly eighth in the Premier League after a defeat
and a goalless draw in new manager Avram Grant's first two games in
charge.
Chelsea put in one of their best performances under Mourinho in
Valencia's Mestalla stadium last season, coming from a goal behind
to win 2-1 and book a semi-final against Liverpool.
But Cole admits that Chelsea will lose in Valencia on Wednesday if
they do not improve their form.
"It's a tough place to come and they are a side with great
players," the England midfielder said.
"We need to be five to 10% better than we've been all season. We
need to improve.
"That is everyone, including myself, we are not firing on all
cylinders at the moment.
"We are improving and we don't think it will be too long before we
are back to our top level and higher."
And Cole says they need to forget about Mourinho, who led the side
to consecutive Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006 and the
Champions League semi-finals in the last two years.
"The club were very successful under Jose but in football things
move on and things change," he said.
"We want to draw a line under that now and look forward. The
atmosphere has been fine, obviously nothing runs smoothly when
there is any change among leaders and managers.
"We all just want to look forward to a successful future with Avram
and Chelsea, and win things."
