Nicolas Anelka admits Chelsea miss Didier Drogba when the Ivory Coast striker is out of the side.
Drogba was on Monday undergoing further assessment on the calf injury that forced him out of Chelsea's 3-0 victory over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
"We miss him when he's not around. We miss his physical impact and things are definitely different without him," said Anelka.
"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."
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 Barclays 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."
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i dont think man-u can play chelsea now wen d game went penalties it was d beginin of a new member in2 d family but now d boys luk more fokus dan ever everybody luk hungry mrs cole is scorin goals n more 2 @#$% 4rm him wit drog out i think d boi wil do d job but not like him bein around!!@#$% on chelsea!!
drogba is out but we will have j.cole and zhirkov.....sturridge and kalou
chelsea are the best no one can deny that with out drogba and terry and lampard chelsea are nothing
Nice peformance frm Drogba against hotspur. Wit greata team work we wil get there, thumbs up 4 u all. Chelsea u too much.
Drogba will bounce back as per usual im sure ! i agree Julie , we do rely on him but as do most teams with their strikers, , look at Shrek now , he looks so lost on his own hehe ! COME ON THE CHELS !
lol!!!!!!!!!sturridge n borini will replace drogba should he be out for several weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!dun forget we still have zhirkov who is almost back from injury too!!!!!!sooner or later, chelsea hav to face even more problems once the african nation starts!!!!!!!!Out:drogba, mikel, esien, kalou!!!!!!!!xd 4-1-2-1-2, cech, a.cole, bosingwa, terry, carvalho, ivanovic or matic (DMF), lampard, ballack, deco or j.cole(amf), zhirkov(lf), anelka(rf) subs: hilario, belleti, alex, sturridge, borini.
chelsea has greater depth and consistency than ever. Didier will be ok. blues 4eva
Drogba is the best forward in blue history.
Does anyone have information on Drogba's injury?
Please let me know.
We shud stop talkin how we ill cope without drogba
coz he ill be back 4 da next game lol coz he is a strong big lawd
Lets hope and pray 4 the mighy drogba he he .... CFC 4 ever
amaln,FRANCO DE SANTO IS ON LOAN TO BLACKBURN ROVERS,SO MAN UNITED WILL WIN EVERYTHING AGAIN,VIVA UNITED
If Drogba's off , then we have big problem...
U can't relay on Anelka , he is only a backup Player...u all seen how weak hi is on his own.
As he says... behind main striker.
Chelsea made huge mistake not to buy any proper striker .
Without him we will strogool...
the only hope is Lampard and maybe JCole if he can steel play.
as for Maluda and Deco... they r only fiders not goalscorring mashines.
I didnt say they could replace him, no one could, but we have an experienced player in Anelka and another slightly less in Kalou. When you are playing 2 up front you can afford to have a younger strike partner as long as the other is class.
VERY STRANGE WAS I N BIRMINBGHAM ON MATCH DAY WATCHED THE MATCH IN A PUB CALLED THE BRISTOL PEAR SURROUNDED BY TOTENHAM SUPPORTERS HOW BISARRE THEE WERE NOT MANY HAPPY FACES IN THERE EXCEPT MINE GO ON YOU BLUES
i understand the frustration, Drogba must remain safe as well to the champions league.
I don't see Di Santo or Borini as new comers that can make it at the moment or especially when they are not as close as Drogba can cause to defenders.
the most crucial thing about this player is his ability to disturb & to score when you never expect him too.
He's a world class one of the most deadliest strikers in the world. That's a Fact!
yip : whats is wrong with you ,can di santo or borini fill gap created by drogba in his absence...i dont think so...if drogba didnt put goal he will create some chances which is very dangerous to oppenents..hope he should fit against riavls liverpool...
DIDIER is probably the most effective CENTRE FORWARD/STRIKER in the WORLD and any TEAM would miss him
but CHELSEA are moe than capable of WINNING MATCHES no matter who is playing. Let`s hope that the DROG is O.K. but Anelka, Lampard, Deco, Ballack and J.T.`s HEAD are MAJOR WEAPONS for The BLUES - I wouldn`t bet on any team beating them this season in any competition - THEY ARE THAT GOOD.!
MAN U, MAN C, LIVERPUDS, ARSENE-AL - LET THEM all TRY!
Paul.
We can still play with Anelka and Kalou or Sturridge up front together if Drogba is out so its not as if we would need to change how anelka is working but we can also use Anelka as a singe forward as he was used last season if need be. Ancelotti also must see something in Borini and we have Di Santo to come back so the attacking options arent exactly lacking.
I cannot see anywhere how The Almighty Drog is, but I do hope he's OK, unfortunately we do reply on him a lot, but I have to say yesterdays game was one of he best I've watched for a very long time - COME ON YOU BLUES
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