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Anelka Pleased To Open Account

Sun 27 Jan, 02:12 PM


Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka is happy with life at his new club after he opened his goalscoring account for the Blues against Wigan.

Anelka helped book Chelsea claim a 2-1 win over the Latics at the JJB Stadium and book their place in Monday's fifth-round draw.

The France international broke the deadlock in the 51st minute before setting up Shaun Wright-Phillips for Chelsea's second in the 82nd. Antoine Sibierski pulled one back three minutes from time but the visitors held on.

Anelka has often carried with him a reputation of arrogance and self-interest, and in the process earned himself the nickname 'Le Sulk'.

After leaving Paris St Germain for Arsenal there followed an ill-fated move to Real Madrid, then back to PSG before a loan at Liverpool.

He had spells at Manchester City, Fenerbahce and Bolton, prior to his £15million switch to Chelsea a fortnight ago.

But the 28-year-old admitted that in Chelsea he thinks he has found a club big enough for him to excel on the pitch and one where he feels settled.

"I'm very happy to be here," Anelka said.

"It's a big club with big players, and I hope we will have more wins because we've a lot of quality in this team. The sky is the limit.

"When you play with big players, they know what they have to do, so I'm glad to be here and to play.

"I am enjoying my football and trying to win because the best feeling is to win games.

"I had waited for this move for a long time, so when the chance came to sign for a big club like Chelsea, I was very pleased and I think I will enjoy my time here."

Anelka was pleased to get his first goal in Chelsea colours and it was one which was borne out of patience and he took his opportunity in the absence of Didier Drogba, Andriy Shevchenko and Salomon Kalou.

"I knew my chance would come," Anelka added.

"I'm new at the club and in the team, so the best you can do is create chances. I'd hit the bar twice in other games, but there has been no need for panic because I knew I would get more chances. Against Wigan, I got one and scored, so it's good.

"But I've been a striker since I was very young, So I know the game and I know how to be patient and that I have to be patient, and that's the way I've been since I arrived.

"I know I have to play well first, to be confident in my game, and then the goals will come. So there's no pressure on me."

Wigan manager Steve Bruce remarked that Chelsea under Avram Grant are the same force as they were under Jose Mourinho following his side's fourth-round exit.

"I don't think there's been any change, and I have to commend their manager and say 'well done'," Bruce said.

"Their biggest strength for me is their resilience. I saw it at Everton (in the Carling Cup) the other night, and I've seen it again here.

"They've got Anelka, and with Wright-Phillips, (Joe) Cole and (Florent) Malouda. They are always going to have that little bit of quality at the top end of the pitch to cause most teams a problem.

"So why move away from what they know because their resilience is fantastic and has kept them in the running, even with nine players missing."

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