Aston Villa midfielder Joe Cole is hoping new teammate Carlos Sanchez can emulate Chelsea icon Claude Makelele.
Colombia international Sanchez recently joined the West Midlands clubs from Spanish side Elche for around £4.7million and ex-Blues man Cole believes he can play a similar role to French legend Makelele who spent five years at Stamford Bridge between 2003 and 2008.
"Makelele was the Governor - the best," he told the club's official website.
"He has just started out in management this year - I spoke to him in the summer.
"He's a great man and what a player he was.
"If Carlos can produce the kind of performances Makelele did, it will be fantastic news for us as a team and as a club.
"People often look at the creators and the goalscorers but we loved Makelele. His role was vital in the team.
"He got the credit from within the camp and within the game. The players who played with him will tell you just how good he was and how important he was for our success. We loved him.
"He was sitting in there for us as our rock. I am thrilled to hear that Carlos counts him as his hero.
"Carlos is clearly a specialist in that defensive midfield position. We will certainly have some player on our hands if Carlos plays half as well as Makelele did.
"He has some hero to look up to there."
