Cole opens war of words

Joe Cole has snubbed Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of their Champions League final showdown next Wednesday by claiming Barcelona winger Lionel Messi is a better player.

Messi has already been linked with a summer move to Stamford Bridge and England midfielder Cole would love the Argentinian to join the club - if it had the chance to land him.

Cole insists the Barcelona winger made Ronaldo, scorer of 31 goals in the Premier League this season and the voted 'Player of the Year' by the media and his fellow professionals, look second best in their Champions League semi-final.

"I think they are both great players," said Cole. "Ronaldo has been fantastic but Messi showed in the semi-final that he is the top man.

"If we could sign him, I'd love to play alongside him. He is only 20 as well, just imagine how good he will be in the next 10 years."

Cole is set to start for Chelsea against United in Moscow next Wednesday and insists that Avram Grant's side must not dwell on the costly errors that handed the title to Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

Striker Didier Drogba has already moaned that the Blues gifted the title to United because they made too many errors during the course of the season.

But Cole urged his team-mates to look to the future, saying: "The best team win the Premier League, it is as simple as that.

"Manchester United would have dropped points they shouldn't have too. We just have to put it to bed and get on with things.

"We have the Champions League to play for. If you worried about every mistake you or the team had made over the course of the season, you would never sleep at night.

"Everyone has been patting us on the back for almost winning the league and getting to the Champions League final but it is about putting silverware on the table."