Soccer

Drogba will be missed, admits Anelka

Nicolas Anelka admits Chelsea miss Didier Drogba when the Ivory Coast striker is out of the side

Mon Sept 21 2009 - 01:00

Nicolas Anelka admits Chelsea miss Didier Drogba when the Ivory Coast striker is out of the side. Drogba was today undergoing further assessment on the calf injury that forced him out of Chelsea’s 3-0 victory over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The talismanic forward made one and scored his fifth of the season before being substituted seven minutes from time. Coach Carlo Ancelotti is hoping Drogba’s injury is nothing more than cramp and insists the team can function without him.

Anelka stepped in for the suspended Drogba in last week’s Champions League victory over Porto and is happy to play the lone attacking role if the 31-year-old is sidelined for any length of time.

“We miss him when he’s not around,” said the Frenchman. “We miss his physical impact and things are definitely different without him. I usually play behind him, in midfield almost. But against Porto I was up front on my own, not that that’s anything new for me as I must have played about 15 games like that last season.”

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Anelka played his part in helping Chelsea create a new club record of 11 straight wins with victory over Spurs. It left the Blues on top of the Premier League — three points in front of Manchester United.

Anelka believes he is playing with more freedom in Ancelotti’s new diamond system and credits the Italian’s laid-back style and rotational policy as being among the reasons for their fabulous start to the new season..

“I am playing more freely now,” added Anelka. “I played with that system at Fenerbahce and it allows me to ask for the ball at my feet and to get up front with Didier at the same time.

“That’s the position I prefer playing in because I can get more involved in the game. The more I get on the ball, the better I feel and the more I can express. Ancelotti rotates the squad, which is new at Chelsea. Everyone gets to play a part and everyone is happy, even if they just get to play 20 minutes.

“We really like him as a coach and as a person too. You can feel that out on the pitch and you really want to work hard for him. He’s laid back, he talks a lot and he knows exactly what he’s doing.”