Anelka Sees Blue Skies Ahead For City
Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka feels former club Manchester City could soon be one of the teams to beat in the Premier League.
Spirits are high in the blue half of Manchester following the proposed takeover by the Abu Dhabi-based United Group for Development and Investment and the purchase of Brazil star Robinho on transfer deadline day.
Chelsea managed to spoil Robinho's debut on Saturday, cancelling out his opening goal to win 3-1 with Anelka grabbing the Blues' third.
But the former Bolton Wanderers and Arsenal striker feels it will not be long before City are competing for trophies.
"I was playing against my former club," Anelka wrote in his weekly column for website lesdessousdusport.fr. "I had already scored against Bolton.
"For Manchester City, it was a special match. There had been many changes. A new management. It's positive for them.
"They will improve the team with great players like Robinho who has just signed.
"After Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, we might have another very big team in the league."
Anelka was also on target on Tuesday in Chelsea's 4-0 Champions League victory over Bordeaux, with his third goal in as many games.
The goal rounded off an impressive week for the France star, which saw him hit the back of the net in a World Cup qualifier, a Premier League game and a Champions League match.
"The press talks about a more attacking game since the arrival of (Luis Felipe) Scolari, but above all it's also a sum of many things," he continued.
"We had the fortune to score early, to score four goals. Certain matches will be much more difficult than that one.
"We have to value the victory more than the result. The Champions League is won with victories more than the result.
"Bordeaux seemed awe-struck by their return to the Champions League, to debut at Chelsea. But they are a good team. They have a great coach, very good players. They shouldn't be written off too quickly."
Anelka's impressive week started in the France shirt, when he scored the winner in a 2-1 victory over Serbia, which perhaps saved coach Raymond Domenech's job following Les Bleus' defeat in Austria four days earlier.
And the striker is delighted with his form.
"This last week has been rich with emotion for me," he added. "Three matches, three goals, in three different competitions.
"I started on the bench against Serbia. Before half-time the coach came to talk to me. Then I prepared normally during half-time.
"Everything was fine. There was no need to motivate myself, I wanted to do well.
"I didn't feel that the team was under pressure particularly. We knew what our qualities were and what we had to do.
"We are happy to represent the France team. We reached that by winning 2-1.
"Of course the match on Saturday was difficult, we needed a result. But that's football. There are highs and lows."
Anelka has been enjoying a run in the Chelsea side thanks in part to the absence of Didier Drogba, who made his first appearance of the season as a substitute against City.
Although the return of the Ivory Coast man could see Anelka return to the bench, he insisted he was happy to see his back.
"As in all big clubs, I will find myself again with competition," he said. "But that is necessary. The coach will decide." |
發表於 2008-9-19 02:05 AM
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