​Former Chelsea and Arsenal defender Ashley Cole has confirmed his retirement from playing football, with the iconic left-back set to focus on becoming a coach.

The 38-year-old was without a club after leaving Derby County earlier this summer, and had previously hinted that he was thinking about retiring in the near future.

He has now confirmed that decision, revealing during Sky Sports’ coverage of ​Chelsea’s meeting with ​Leicester City on Sunday that he has already begun training to become a coach further down the line.

He said: “After hard thinking and consideration it was obviously time to hang by boots up and look towards my chapter, which will hopefully be coaching. I’m doing a course at the moment so now I want to be great as being a coach.

“[My career has been] incredible to be honest. As a young kind I never expected to play one game or be a professional

“Looking back now to be able to say I played in World Cups, Champions League finals, be lucky enough to lift ​Premier League titles, is a young kids dream. I fulfilled my dream and now I look for the future as hopefully to be a great coach.”

The decision brings an end to his 20-year career as a senior footballer, which has seen him turn out for ​Arsenal, ​Chelsea, Roma, LA Galaxy and ​Derby.

He made his debut with the Gunners in a League Cup tie with ​Middlesbrough in November 1999, and went on to lift two Premier League titles and three FA Cups during his time with his boyhood club.

“Looking back now to be able to say I played in World Cups, Champions League finals, be lucky enough to lift ​Premier League titles, is a young kids dream. I fulfilled my dream and now I look for the future as hopefully to be a great coach.”

The decision brings an end to his 20-year career as a senior footballer, which has seen him turn out for ​Arsenal, ​Chelsea, Roma, LA Galaxy and ​Derby.

He made his debut with the Gunners in a League Cup tie with ​Middlesbrough in November 1999, and went on to lift two Premier League titles and three FA Cups during his time with his boyhood club.

Warning to Bayern Munich and other Bundesliga title contenders, Borussia Dortmund midfielder Axel Witsel believes his side are stronger now than they were last season, having come from behind to thrash Augsburg 5-1 on Saturday.

“It was similar to Leipzig last season [when they went behind inside the first minute], but, in the end, we said ‘come on, guys, we have a lot of time still.’ And we knew as soon as we scored the first goal it was going to be okay.”

“We know we’re going to have opportunities to get goals and guys like Paco [Alcacer] and Marco [Reus]don’t need 10 chances to score.”

“I don’t know what’s happened,” he joked. “It’s the first time I’ve seen Paco come back into the place of the right-back and win the ball back. It’s a good sign for the team. When you speak about defence, it’s not only the defenders; everybody, even the strikers, has to do their job defensively. I think, from this point of view, we are better than last season.”

Asked what his main takeaway from the game was?

“No. You always have to be careful because the Bundesliga is not an easy championship – anything can happen. But we’re at home and we knew that once you score the first goal, you keep going and you put more pressure on the opponent, and then, when it’s two or three, the game is over.”

After the 3-1 triumph against Celta Vigo, Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane was full of praise for Gareth Bale, indicating he will now remain with the club.

“He [Bale] is going to stay,” Zidane told the press. “Everyone we have helps us to think positively.

“You have to focus on the season, nothing more. [Eden] Hazard’s injury was bad luck for us, but it didn’t change the idea we had with Bale starting the game.

“Gareth, James… Everyone here is going to defend the shirt the way it deserves to be.”

Luka Modric was sent off for Real Madrid after a tackle on Denis Suarez, and despite the man disadvantage Los Blancos went on to score another two goals.

“We played a very complete game from the start,” Zidane went on. “And did so well with 10 players. We suffered to get the result.

“Vinicius and Gareth did well defensively, and did Lucas [Vazquez] and Isco later.

“In defence we were very good, and then we know what we can do when we have the ball.

“We are satisfied and happy. There won’t be many teams who come and win here.

“I’m happy after pre-season, which was complicated in terms of results, but was good in terms of work.

“What’s important is competition.”

​Real Madrid began their 2019/20 La Liga campaign with an impressive 3-1 win away to Celta Vigo, with goals from Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos and Lucas Vazquez earning them the points.

Premier League
Man City 2-2 Tottenham-FT

TOTTENHAM HOLD CHAMPIONS

Moura steps off the bench to head home equaliser just 27 seconds after coming on in end-to-end Etihad clash

The coach spoke about the rumours linking the Brazilian with a move away from the French capital on Saturday and suggested that the player could end up staying.

“There isn’t a solution right now, but our relationship is the same because it’s a thing between him and the club,” he said at a press conference.

“If there’s no solution then he’ll stay with us.

“He has three years on his contract.

“When I think of a strong team I think of a team with Neymar.”

Neymar has not been included in the squad for this weekend’s match against Stade Rennais, with Tuchel explaining that it’s too soon for the forward to come back from his injury