Gloating Hull City fans taunt Joe Cole after his bizarre claim he had snubbed covering their Premier League return for TNT Sports – as they race into two-goal lead against Man United before half time
Hull City taunted Joe Cole – who wrote them off for this Premier League season – in their thrilling first match against Manchester United.
Supporters chanted ‘are you watching, Joe Cole?’ as they stunned Michael Carrick’s side with goals from centre-backs Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy.
Cole has drawn criticism for laughing at the newly promoted club, saying they are ‘gone’ on The Dressing Room podcast in the build-up to the season.
He also bizarrely claimed that TNT Sports assigned him to the Hull-Manchester United match and that he put his phone on Do Not Disturb to avoid contact about it.
Daily Mail Sport has since exclusively revealed that he was never lined up to cover the match anyway.
Fans have taken to social media to highlight what they see as Cole’s ‘condescending’ and ‘disrespectful’ attitude, with some even claiming that the Championship play-off winners should ban Cole from its stadium.
Hull City fans mocked Joe Cole – who laughed at their Premier League chances – as they went 2-0 up against Manchester United in their opening match
Cole drew the wrath of Hull City fans with the disrespectful comments he made on his podcast
Hull owner Acun Ilicali responded to his comments, writing on social media: ‘It is disappointing to see my beautiful city criticised by people who should know better.
‘As a club we are used to being underestimated and we enjoy it, and we enjoyed it more when we were promoted last season.
‘The true beauty of a place is in its people, and that’s why, for me, Hull is one of the most beautiful places in the world.
‘For me, seeing two ex-players making fun of a deservedly promoted club, is more laughable than the things they were laughing at.’
Hull were tipped by some to be relegated from the Championship last campaign but Ilicali has always been bullish about his side’s chances under manager Sergej Jakirovic.
They have spent around £76million on 11 players since promotion and are targeting more signings, but kicked off against United with eight players from last season in their starting line-up.
Former Chelsea and England Cole triggered outrage in East Yorkshire thanks to the comments he made with former West Ham team-mate Carlton Cole on a podcast.
When asked who would be going down this season, Cole said ‘Hull are gone, man’ before claiming that they had arrived in the Premier League ‘through the back door’.
He then added that he had ‘a confession to make’, saying he had been contacted by TNT Sports who ‘tried to slip in Hull on the first day of the season’. ‘I put my phone on Do Not Disturb,’ he said.
Daily Mail Sport understands the comments have left bosses at TNT Sports bemused, with insiders saying Cole was not down to cover the opener at the MKM Stadium, and never had been.
Regardless, it has stoked plenty of emotion in Hull. Sources have disclosed that players and staff are well aware of what was said and intend to use it as motivation for what would appear to be a tough mission ahead.
They will look to the achivements of Sunderland last season as inspiration after the Black Cats qualified for European football in their first year back in the top flight.