Claude Makélélé vs Michaël Essien in EA FC 27: which card is better?

Claude Makélélé and Michaël Essien are both 88-rated Base Icons at CDM in FC 27 Ultimate Team, and both carry the Holding role. They look close on paper, but they get to a destroyer's job in different ways: one through pure reading of the game, the other through power and some attacking output.

Makélélé has the edge on the defensive side: DEF 88 against 86, defensive awareness 92, interceptions 90 and the Intercept PlayStyle+. He can also cover RM and CM. Essien brings PHY 89, strength 90, SHO 73 with Power Shot, a 4-star weak foot and Incisive Pass, so he gives more going forward. Makélélé is faster to the ball by reading play, Essien wins it by force.

I would pick Makélélé for a pure screen in front of the back line, and Essien if you want a CDM who also shoots from range and carries more physical presence.