Ask Joe Cole about his battles on the soccer field and you will get answers that invoke memories of famous clashes between English soccer powers.
“It’s always very competitive,” says Cole. “You take intense guys and let them play and that's what happens.”
But rather than say, Chelsea vs. Manchester United or Liverpool vs. Arsenal, Cole isn’t talking about any sort of real-life action on the pitch. Instead, Liverpool’s newest midfielder is referring to heated games of virtual soccer on the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3.
"Oh yeah," laughs Cole. "We get pretty into it."
Born during the rise of Nintendo and Sega in the 1980s, the 28-year old from London grew up during the perfect time to pick up video games. And like many from that generation, he did just that.
“I’ve been playing since I was a kid,” says Cole, who signed with the Reds this summer. “Especially the sports games, since they are the most competitive.”
That competitive spirit has brought Cole north to Liverpool this season, following five seasons with West Ham United and almost 300 appearances with Chelsea, where he won three Premier League titles and two FA Cups.
Now, after watching the Reds struggle to a seventh-place finish in 2009, he is ready for the challenge of lifting Liverpool back to elite status.
“I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t believe we were capable of achieving something great,” says Cole of his new home, “I’ve always admired Liverpool as a club and it was time for a change in my career.”
His play on the pitch won’t be the only challenge facing Cole as he prepares for his first season at Anfield. As a video game junkie, he’s also set to take his gaming habits to the screen.
“I’m sure we’ll have at least a few games,” says Cole of challenging his new teammates. “I’m looking forward to seeing who’s the top guy.”
This is nothing new for Cole, who made a habit of playing FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer tournaments with teammates at Chelsea, while facing off with various members of the England national team.
“It’s a great social thing to do while you’re travelling and living in hotel rooms,” he says. “Someone’s always got a Playstation or an Xbox.”
Cole is personally addicted to both soccer games and, surprisingly, to the boxing titles as well.
“I’ve always enjoyed boxing,” he says, “and it’s crazy having fighters from different eras in Fight Night. I love having someone like Mike Tyson facing Mohammed Ali or Sugar Ray Leonard fighting Ricky Hatton.”
And Cole says he fares better with the boxing titles than with the football games, allowing him to get just a little bit more ambitious.
“I usually win at the boxing and lose at the football,” laughs Cole, “so I only put down wagers with my friends on something like Fight Night.”
When it comes to the soccer titles, though, there has still been plenty of excitement between men more famous for scoring goals on the real-life pitch than on the screen.
“I used to get in heated games with JT (John Terry) because he’s a very competitive player,” says Cole, who then joked that Terry might not be fond of his pick as the best gamer on the English team.
“I think JT would claim he’s the best and he’s very good, but it has to be Shaun Wright-Phillips,” he laughs.
“(Wright-Phillips) is incredible at any game you want to play and you rarely see him without a pad (controller) in his hand, wherever you are, travelling around the world. Practice makes perfect and I hate saying it, but he’s the best.”
As for the upcoming season, Cole will find himself in a promising situation after making the move to Liverpool. Having been presented with the opportunity to play behind superstar striker Fernando Torres, he couldn’t be more excited about his new role.
“I’ve watched and admired Fernando for many years,” says Cole, “and it’s the job of Steven (Gerrard) and me to create as many chances for him as possible.”
Much like a video game character, Torres has thrilled crowds with electrifying goals that don’t quite seem possible, and has Cole salivating at the possibilities for 2010.
“We’re one of the few clubs with a player capable of scoring 30-plus times,” says Cole, “and if he can do that, anything can happen for the club.”
As far as his character in video games, Cole is still tickled to see himself there after many years of FIFA and Pro Ev.
“It’s a funny feeling,” he says of seeing himself on the screen, “but it’s great.”
And asked about his managerial strategy with past teams like Chelsea and England, Cole jokingly admits to a touch of personal bias
“If your morale or fitness isn’t good, it’s still very difficult to drop yourself from the lineup,” he says. “You don’t want to leave yourself out.”
Of course, the ultra-competitive Cole also strays from playing with his real-life teams, wanting the upper hand in talent when he takes to the virtual pitch.
“If you’re playing for a wager, you want the best team,” he says, preferring Barcelona and Spain when he has first choice.
“They’re the easiest to play with,” says Cole of those squads. “You have wingers like Messi and Iniesta and they move the ball really well. I think most people would choose them.”
Cole’s personal playing style certainly works well with either of his favorite teams, as he fashions himself as a “dribbler” in both FIFA and Pro Ev.
“You get some players who pass a lot, but I like to get the ball out wide to the wingers and get crosses into the box,” he says. “That’s the great part about these games, is that everyone plays a different style.”
And being a professional soccer player, Cole’s knowledge of the game is clearly beyond the average fan. Asked about the relationship between real-life matches and an increasingly realistic game of FIFA, he agrees it can be a strong asset.
“You have to set proper formations and know what your team likes to do,” he explains. “If you’re playing with a team that likes to play the long ball you have to use that strategy, and if they like to play short passes, that’s the way to be successful.”
There is plenty of soccer ahead in Cole’s near future, both on the pitch at Anfield and on his widescreen television, as Liverpool’s newest star gets set to tackle his list of challenges that includes turning around the squad and raising a young family in a new town.
“It’s new and exciting,” says Cole of moving his wife and baby daughter, “we’re all getting settled and finding our feet.”
And as for his work on the pitch, the Reds midfielder can’t wait to get started.
“I’m sure given time to settle in,” says Cole, “we can be a great fit, Liverpool and myself.”
Just leave him some time to play his video games at Rivalspot, ok?
