CARSON, Calif. -- Ashley Cole insists he didn't sign with the LA Galaxy because of the MLS club's proximity to the beach.
The former Arsenal, Chelsea and England left-back drew the ire of many in American soccer when he said upon joining Italy's Roma in July 2014 that he had turned down MLS offers because wasn't "ready to relax on a beach yet."
On Friday, Cole said the quote, while accurate, was taken out of context.
"I'm not going to come here and try to defend myself," Cole said after being introduced by his new team.