Cole revels in Chelsea's new-look side after Blues maintain perfect start

Ashley Cole believes the new-look Chelsea are off to the perfect start after a 2-0 home win over Newcastle moved them back to the top of the Barclays Premier League.

Eden Hazard got his first Blues goal from the penalty spot after Fernando Torres tumbled in the area, and the revitalised Spain striker added the second in first-half stoppage time.
Chelsea have changed their style this summer, but Cole is delighted with how quickly they have gelled.

Star of the show: Eden Hazard was at his best for Chelsea against Newcastle

 

'We've lost Didier (Drogba), a big powerful presence up front and sometimes we just used to knock it up to him,' the England left-back told ESPN.

'But now we've signed some smaller players so we've got to get the ball down a play a little bit more now.
'The second goal today was a great goal for the whole team.'
It was Torres' third goal of the season, counting his strike in the Community Shield, and Cole reckons the frontman's new-found confidence is as much a result of Spain's triumph at Euro 2012 as his new role in a Drogba-less Chelsea team.

Main men: Hazard and Fernando Torres

'Of course it was really hard for him to (only) get that many games (last season),' he said. 'But when he did play he worked really hard for the team.
'Now he's the main man, like you say. But he's full of confidence after the European Championships and he scored a great goal today.'
Hazard turned in another fine performance to add to his growing reputation since his big-money move from Lille this summer.
'I think he deserves a lot of credit for the start to the season we've had,' Cole said.
'He's won two penalties, got two assists and now a goal - it's phenomenal.
'We're proud to have this guy in the team and hopefully he can keep doing it.'
Hazard added: 'I'm very happy to get my first goal at Stamford Bridge.'
Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo believes all of his players deserve credit for the club's unbeaten start to the new season despite Eden Hazard once again grabbing the headlines in a 2-0 win at home to Newcastle.
The Blues returned to the top of the Barclays Premier League thanks to a third win in a week.
Summer signing Hazard opened the scoring from the penalty spot and then provided an assist for Fernando Torres to seal the points in first-half stoppage time.
The Belgium international has been central to the wins over Newcastle, Reading and Wigan and Torres has started to look more like the £50million man brought in from Liverpool in January 2011, but Di Matteo feels the whole team deserve praise.

Hitting form: Torres scores Chelsea's second goal against Newcastle

'It's not just them two, they have a good link-up with (Juan) Mata and the other midfield players,' he said.
'Thanks to the team he (Hazard) has been able to slide in and play very comfortably with the others.
'I know you focus on the goalscorers but I think it was a good performance considering it was our third game in six days. The demand was high playing against tough opposition today.'
Torres, 28, was brought down for the penalty and scored a tremendous goal from the edge of the box and Di Matteo is pleased that he has started to add goals to his game once more.
'He was very important for us last season, maybe not scoring as much but providing and working hard for the team,' he said.
'He is a great team player as well but it is great to see him scoring and the second goal I think was terrific play from us.'