Premier League - Anelka: Never write off United

Eurosport - Tue, 23 Sep 21:59:00 2008

EXCLUSIVE! In his first blog for Eurosport-Yahoo!, Chelsea and France striker Nicolas Anelka says that the 1-1 draw with Manchester United proved that you can never write Sir Alex Ferguson's men off.

2008-2009 Chelsea-Manchester United Cristiano Ronaldo Nicolas Anelka - 0

"Many of you will have seen a really good match between Chelsea and Manchester United on Sunday.

My team, Chelsea, went behind early in the game but we played really well in the second half and deserved to get a point - or even win it.

We started quite well this season, although obviously we would have liked to beat United and Tottenham.

United didn't start the campaign so well, but I cannot believe that some people were trying to write them off this early in the season!

Even if they had lost at Stamford Bridge you can never discount them because, for many years, they have started the championship in difficult circumstances.

But they always seem to come back very strong to finish in the top positions. And I think this season will be no different.

They're a great team and, like all great teams, Manchester United are always going to be there or thereabouts, performing in the big matches and making their presence felt in the title shake-up.

United proved their strength against us, by playing very well in a crucial match after an indifferent start to the campaign.

But despite struggling to stay with them at first, we were the more dangerous team in the second half and, on our own turf, we pushed really hard.

And, even though we had to come from behind, we had chances to win the match in the end.

What we did at Stamford Bridge showed our courage and togetherness as a team. We fought for everything, but I think we were a bit tired and we really missed Deco, who was injured in the warm-up.

Of course we have many great players, but Deco has been brilliant since he arrived here and he is very important to our style of play.

Personally, I missed a few good opportunities to score, and I could have done better.

But it is not secret that I play better alongside another striker, particularly with Didier Drogba in a 4-4-2.

Hopefully I'll have some more chances do so!"

Nicolas Anelka / Eurosport

Comment 9 - 28 of 68

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  1. fitbutfrustrated = @#$%

    From kevin m, on Tue 23 Sep 1:42PM

  2. Manchester United will win the league the class will show later on in the year

    From Rooneyslimfast

    From Simon, on Tue 23 Sep 1:07PM

  3. OK, so Anelka wrote this did he?

    Eurosport... cough up, who's the ghost writer?

    From EPO_78, on Tue 23 Sep 1:03PM

  4. Anelka is a great striker, he'll be fantastic paired with Drogba.

    he missed a couple of goals on Sunday but don't judge him on one game

    From Bastien, on Tue 23 Sep 12:56PM

  5. Anelka is not killing you nor anyboby, but he is saying the truth. this is just the biginning of the season and many people are wrting this Team Manchester united off, Why

    From Eby.star, on Tue 23 Sep 12:44PM

  6. anleka is going to kill us all with heart attatcks one day

    From morembulat, on Tue 23 Sep 12:32PM

  7. ""Wait til Christmas and it'll be the usual suspects. Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal and Liverpool fighting to keep your Champions League place!""

    I don't recall Liverpool 'fighting' for a CL place last season. Or the season before.

    I do recal Liverpool fighting for the CL itself though.

    @#$%.

    From Kim S, on Tue 23 Sep 12:31PM

  8. Anelka is not good for Chelsea, he play better in Bolton, please let him move to another club.

    From ladi, on Tue 23 Sep 12:29PM

  9. does this mean nic is listening to pur messages?

    From manojthiyagarajan@..., on Tue 23 Sep 12:14PM

  10. eh nic, ive got an idea... shut up and and weave me a basket

    From adam, on Tue 23 Sep 12:13PM

  11. Analka was such a dissapointment on Sunday. When are we going to get a decent striker?!

    From ROBBO, on Tue 23 Sep 12:07PM

  12. I don't think i will wind my neck in!

    I think i'll remind you of our distinctively 'average' start last season when you turkeys got excited because we couldnt win by more than 1 nil for the first 8 games or so! remember that one? Titles are won in May not September and thats what Anelkas talking about, so jog on pal!!!

    From rabid421, on Tue 23 Sep 12:05PM

  13. Anelka......unfit player for Chelsea ....

    From Martin, on Tue 23 Sep 12:00PM

  14. Keep on saying ,we started same last season and wn PL and CL,good to live in past,Enlgland won world cup in 1966,and hoped,they will win again the same ,Man U ,Cant beat chelsea t stm.bridge,then why frfie and ferdinand&co claimed in all newspapers that they are the team who will end chelsea's unbeaten run?eh?watch out what u say and watchout what u ae capable of

    From , on Tue 23 Sep 11:59AM

  15. Fitbutfrustrated, this very average Utd team had to result to pub defending on two accounts to let your team get a result because of Liverpools inability to open teams up so its no championship for you guys again! (If your lucky they may re introduce the back pass rule to aid your chances)! , time and time again, numpties come on after a few matches and give it the old "Utd are finished" chatter but our trophy cabinet grows and grows and you all shrivel up and go very quiet. Wait til Christmas and it'll be the usual suspects. Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal and Liverpool fighting to keep your Champions League place!

    From rabid421, on Tue 23 Sep 11:52AM

  16. What's the URL of his blog?

    From Jibstar1uk, on Tue 23 Sep 11:48AM

  17. Chelsea are the average team, took all they got to score that one goal, they had to really fight for it, and then they got the arrogance to keep saying how great they are, they're hated by most because of that arraogance, they think they're gods gift to football...PLEASE GIVE ME A BREAK!

    From L H, on Tue 23 Sep 11:41AM

  18. i dont think Anelka is a Top Four Material in EPL.. i guess he is good enough in Man City, Spurs or Portmouth...

    From Binop, on Tue 23 Sep 11:40AM

  19. Nicolas,

    good start on the blog. You missed a terrific chance to score against ManU, I really hope that You recapture the form you had in Bolton. You were prolific there and I'm sure that was the reason I, among other CFC fans, welcomed you with open arms.

    I wish you many goals and trophies as a member of Chelsea :)

    From aardhaart, on Tue 23 Sep 11:29AM

  20. Well he is right when you miss a sitter like he did!! Give Di Santo a Chance with Didier.

    From Mark S, on Tue 23 Sep 11:29AM
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