Joe Cole sets West Ham fans straight over where his loyalties lie after Chelsea celebrations sullied his name with some

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Joe Cole has spoken out to set some West Ham United fans straight over where his loyalties lie.

Cole is a rare thing in football in that he is loved by fans of West Ham AND bitter rivals Chelsea.

As a young boy emerging through West Ham’s academy Cole brought a level of excitement to following the Hammers that has rarely – if ever – been matched since.

West Ham’s jewel in the crown before the Hammers sold the crown jewels

He was the jewel ready to be placed in the crown at the centre of West Ham’s golden generation.

But this is West Ham. And while Cole’s Hammers love story had some amazing moments, it ended in heartbreak with relegation and his move to Chelsea.

Cole came back to the club late in his career and is still highly regarded by most West Ham fans. He speaks very well on the club in his role as a pundit, perhaps more in tune than any other out there with what West Ham fans want.

Supporters who were taking notice at the time of Cole’s emergence in the Academy of Football would know he grew up supporting Chelsea.

Cole’s Chelsea Champions League celebrations did not sit well with some West Ham fans

But when Cole was spotted emphatically celebrating as Chelsea beat Manchester City to win the Champions League back in May, it did not sit well with some of the West Ham faithful.

Now, in an interview with The Independent, Cole has spoken out passionately to explain he has a love for both Chelsea and West Ham that fans who are so fiercely loyal to their club just simply would not be able to understand.

“You know what fans don’t understand as well?” Cole told The Independent, who described his tone as a mixture of bottled up frustration and guilt.

‘It’s alien to them’ Former Hammer passionately speaks out over where his loyalties lie

“When I watch football, I have an affinity with West Ham and I have an affinity with Chelsea. The West Ham fans will have seen me jumping around when Chelsea won the Champions League, but if that had been West Ham in the Europa League, I would have equally loved being in that moment.

“Fans can’t comprehend that – it’s alien to them, they can’t get their head around it. When you’ve played the game and have an affection for both clubs, and you’ve got friends on the pitch, that emotional connection… that will never leave me.”

In other news, relief for West Ham as Newcastle fail in race against time.

And ‘Trust me’ Moyes calls for fans not to get caught up in transfer window tittle tattle.