“It was nice to score the first goal under Scolari [in the 4-0 win against Portsmouth on Sunday]. I was trying to play a bit further up because we have a lot of midfielders who like to play deep. We play five in midfield and I’m the one who likes to run in behind. Everyone worked for each other and we looked like a cohesive unit.”

Chelsea’s hopes of signing Robinho suffered a setback yesterday when Ramón Calderón, the Real Madrid president, insisted that the Brazil forward is not for sale. Chelsea have already had a bid of £19.2 million rejected, with the Spanish champions valuing Robinho at £32 million.

“He has looked very happy in the hotel, he is going to play this season with us I am absolutely sure,” Joe Cole expressed a desire to stay at Chelsea until the end of his career and reassured the club’s fans yesterday that he will not get dragged into a lengthy contract dispute. The England midfield player has two years remaining on his present deal but, despite beginning talks this summer, has been told that he must wait until the end of the season to sign an extension.

Although not mentioning his teammate by name, Cole’s attitude contrasts with that of Frank Lampard, whose contract negotiations developed into a saga over 2½ years before he finally signed a new agreement last week. Unlike Lampard, Cole is not interested in exploring the possibility of playing abroad and is adamant that he will not sign for a Premier League rival. He is likely to sign a new four-year contract next summer. “I just wanted to put the contract to bed,” Cole said. “We wanted to get it sorted this year, but with new players coming and going there wasn’t time. I love it here, the club want to sign me and there won’t be any problems. I suggested that I concentrate on my performances this season because it’s not nice for the fans to have an ongoing thing, but I will be a Chelsea player for the rest of my career.”

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Cole has been repeatedly forced to prove himself at Stamford Bridge since signing from West Ham United five years ago, with further doubts being raised over his future at the club after the arrival of Luiz Felipe Scolari this summer, given the Brazilian manager’s desire to sign Robinho. Cole played only sparingly on the club’s preseason tour and appeared not to figure in Scolari’s plans, but took advantage of an injury to Michael Ess-ien to score the first goal against Portsmouth on Sunday. Having already seen off the likes of Jesper Gronkjaer, Juan Sebastián Verón, Damien Duff and Arjen Robben, the 26-year-old is confident of coping with even more competition.

“It’s a way of life at a big club,” Cole said. “You come to Chelsea and you have to expect competition. I thrive on it. There are always big-name players at this club and I love competing with them and I love learning from them. It can only make me a better player.

Calderón said. “He has looked lively, very happy and full of desire. And the coach [Bernd Schuster] has told me that he is training very well. There are a lot of clubs who want our players and we don’t want to sell them. This is football, it is a matter between the player and his club.”

Michael Ballack has pulled out of Germany’s friendly international against Belgium tomorrow after bruising his foot against Portsmouth.

Adrian Mutu has confirmed his intention to appeal against Fifa’s award of £13.68 million in compensation to Chelsea after his failed drugs test in 2004. “This is an unjust and in-humane sentence,” the Fiorentina and Romania striker said. “We’re going to appeal. I don’t think I have committed a crime that merits such an amount.”

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