MX23RW : Friday, February 7 14:16:53| >> :120:3913:3913:

Alan Hansen: 'The players, not Rafael Benitez, are the problem at Chelsea'

Hansen: 'Benitez not the problem'
© PA Photos
Alan Hansen believes that lacking the "right type of player" is Chelsea's problem, not interim manager Rafael Benitez.

Former Liverpool defender Alan Hansen believes that Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez is not the main issue at Stamford Bridge.

The Spaniard, who has failed to strike up a relationship with the majority of the club's fans since replacing Roberto Di Matteo in November, is expected to be given the boot in the summer.

While criticism has fallen on the ex-Liverpool manager's shoulders, Hansen believes that the Blues' lack of the "right type of player" is the deep-rooted problem in the West London club.

"It does not matter whether it is Benitez or Jose Mourinho in charge of this Chelsea team, there is a lack of the right type of player, particularly at the back," Hansen wrote in The Telegraph.

"They need a centre-half, a holding midfielder and a right-back. The jury is also still out on whether Demba Ba is good enough for the level Chelsea aspire to. Whoever Roman Abramovich turns to next will simply find himself addressing the same tactical and technical problems Benitez has been faced with."

Chelsea are currently one point above fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League table.

ID:71145: cacheID:71145:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2167:
Written by
Danielle Joynson
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Roberto Di Matteo waves in April 2012
Read Next:
Petrescu blasts Abramovich
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool23175156213556
2Arsenal24148249222750
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest24145540271347
4Chelsea24127547311643
5Manchester CityMan City24125748351341
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle24125742291341
7Bournemouth24117641281340
8Aston Villa2410773437-337
9Fulham249963632436
10Brentford24103114342133
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton248973539-433
12Crystal Palace247982830-230
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd2485112834-629
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs24831348371127
15West Ham UnitedWest Ham2476112946-1727
16Everton236892328-526
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2454153452-1819
18Leicester CityLeicester2445152553-2817
19Ipswich TownIpswich2437142249-2716
20Southampton2423191854-369


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!