I didn't join LA for Holiday - Ashley Cole

Ashley Cole is aware of the skepticism surrounding his
move to the LA Galaxy. As a 35-year-old who hasn't logged
a competitive match since March and once compared
playing in MLS to relaxing on the beach, he comes to the
league with his fair share of doubters.

With the Galaxy confirming the signing of Cole on
Wednesday, the former England left back has addressed the
perception that he's headed to MLS to coast through his
career's final chapter.

"Hopefully the LA fans will warm up to me," Cole told
LAGalaxy.com . "I know that it won't be easy at the start, of
course, but if I can just prove to them that I'm not here for a
holiday, I'm here to work, I'm here to win things.

"I know that I’m 35, I’m not 21 anymore, so I have to
understand that my body is not how it was years ago. I stay
fit as much I can. I train as hard as I can, and I hope that I
can bring trophies to the team. I hope to do that. In terms of
proving people wrong, I've done that my entire career. I've
always wanted to prove to people that I can play."

Cole, who joined the Galaxy after parting ways with Serie A
side Roma, said in July 2014 that he turned down offers
from MLS because he was "not ready to relax on a beach
yet." Now he joins a Galaxy team poised to rely on him as
an integral part of a revamped defensive unit, which also
has added Belgian defender Jelle Van Damme and
goalkeeper Dan Kennedy.

"I know that I have a lot to prove. I know that people have
doubts about me because of my age and because I haven't
played in a long time," Cole said. "It's a motivation and it
drives me to prove people wrong, and to remind myself that
I can still play at a top level."