Ancelotti happy with Benayoun
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti says he thinks Yossi Benayoun is a better tactical player than Joe Cole.
Benayoun signed for Chelsea as part of the deal that saw Joe Cole become one of Roy Hodgson's first signings at Liverpool. Some have questioned the deal but the Chelsea boss clearly thinks he has a better player.
Chelsea have only signed Benayoun so far this summer and it's natural that more attention will be paid to a player if he is one of the only signings made at a club. The midfielder is not a world class name and because of this people are more willing to criticise Chelsea's transfer activity.
Benayoun does have a number of attributes that will ensure he does well at Chelsea. However, Cole does have more Premier League experience and many will disagree with the Chelsea boss and say that Cole is the better player.
Benayoun's attributes
Yossi Benayoun is a very versatile player. He proved at West Ham United and at Liverpool that he is capable of playing all over the midfield and this will make him important to Chelsea.
The Premier League champions have a lot of big name players in the key central positions. They need a player who can fill in when they're injured but also a player who can adapt during a game and fill in the gaps.
Benayoun is not a big man, he relies a lot on his pace and agility when he is on the field. The only problem with this is that it's much easier for other sides to bully him off of the ball and make sure he doesn't have an impact in a game.
Ancelotti said: "I think Joe is a quicker player, but I think Yossi tactically is better. They are different players. Benayoun is Benayoun, Joe Cole is Joe Cole. People may say Liverpool have the better player but everyone can explain their own opinion. We are happy to have Yossi here."
Cole's experience
Joe Cole played 126 times for West Ham United and 183 times for Chelsea scoring a combined total of 38 goals during his spells at both clubs. This clearly shows he is an effective midfield player who has developed a great deal of experience playing at the highest level.
Cole is surrounded by players at Liverpool who will complement his game and allow him to show off his knowledge of the game. He knows where the space and the runs to make when he sees passages of play developing. He also stands a very good chance of featuring in Roy Hodgson's immediate plans at the club.
Ancelotti added: "Joe Cole had a fantastic career at Chelsea but this year is another story. Yossi is very intelligent and tactically he thinks very well – he can play in different positions and will be a good player for us."
Betting advice
Cole is much more likely to play more games for Liverpool than Benayoun is going to play at Chelsea. This means he will have more chances to score and will look like a better option if you are looking for a player to back.
Both Chelsea and Liverpool have chances to win the Premier League. Chelsea have the experience of winning but Liverpool will be hungry under the leadership of their new manager. Back Chelsea for now but keep an eye on how Liverpool start the season.
If they win their first few games and the football looks much better at Anfield than it did last season then take a punt on them. Do this before the odds shorten with every win they notch up.
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