Chelsea

The Italian tactician allowed Cole to leave after his contract came to an end at Stamford Bridge.  There was a contract offer handed to Cole but he decided to weigh up his options, and Ancelotti did not exactly put a great deal of effort into trying to persuade the England star to stay.

The former AC Milan boss secured the services of Benayoun from Liverpool in a £5.5million deal earlier this summer and Ancelotti thinks the Israeli playmaker will be a better player for his Chelsea side than Cole was in his time with the Blues.

“I think Joe is a quicker player, but I think Yossi tactically is better,” said Ancelotti.

“They are different players. Benayoun is Benayoun, Joe Cole is Joe Cole.”

Many pundits and fans alike have suggested Liverpool got the better deal in this particular scenario.  While the two transfers were not interlinked in terms of the actual deal, the fact the players play in the same position essentially means that Yossi Benayoun is Cole’s replacement at Chelsea, and vice versa.

However, the Chelsea boss believes he has secured a better player to replace Cole and suggested that Cole did not think tactically, or listen to instructions from the manager.

He added:  “People may say Liverpool have the better player but everyone can explain their own opinion. We are happy to have Yossi here.

“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.”

Chelsea are the current favourites to secure the Premier League title after their success last season, and although Ancelotti has been fairly quiet in the transfer market the current squad at his disposal is arguably the strongest in the league.

However, Manchester United will be eager to take the title back to Old Trafford after coming close last season.  United have also been fairly quiet in the transfer market, with just Chris Smalling and Javier Hernanez added to the side who came second last season, but the club’s hierarchy claim there is money available to boss Sir Alex Ferguson if he wishes to splash out on a big name player.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes his team have matured enough to challenge for the top domestic prize in the coming season, while the Frenchman has also secured the services of Marouane Chamakh from Bordeaux in the hope the striker scores the goals that bring the title to the Emirates.

Big spending Manchester City have also received backing from pundits who believe this could be the year the established sides stranglehold on the Premier League will be broken, while reports of a takeover at Liverpool could allow boss Roy Hdgson the funds required to turn the Anfield outfit into a side capable of battling it out at the very top of the table (Chelsea 13/8f in the full Premier League 2010/2011 outright market).

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