John Terry praises Nicolas Anelka and looks ahead to Arsenal game
Chelsea defender John Terry has taken the time to praise Nicolas Anelka after the striker’s strong display against French champions Marseille in the UEFA Champions League.
The sides met in the competition on Tuesday night in Anelka’s first game back in his homeland since the controversy at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which all but ended the forward’s international career.
The striker looks to have put the events in South Africa (he was sent home from the France camp after insulting coach Raymond Domonech and was later hit with a lengthy ban) behind him after a string of top performances.
He scored in the match against Marseille to double the English Premier League champions’ advantage after Terry notched the opener. The tie ended 2-0 in Chelsea’s favour, and Anelka took his tally for the season to seven goals in seven games across all competitions.
Anelka’s club captain took the time to praise his efforts and attitude, telling Chelsea’s official website that, “He's [Anelka] been brilliant (over the) last year. He’s such a great guy to have around the place. He was one of our best players last season
and the season before. He is so calm and experienced — a really good personality despite what you hear about him. He gets on great with everyone and when he plays like that, he's unstoppable.”
Meanwhile, Terry looked ahead to this weekend’s crunch EPL fixture against Arsenal. Dangerman Didier Drogba will be available for the match after missing out on the Marseille clash due to suspension, and Terry is delighted that the Ivorian will be able to
line up against the Gunners.
“We'll be delighted to have him back, and it's important when the other guys come in, they do a great job as well.”
After a storming start to the season where they netted 21 goals in just five EPL games, Chlesea suffered two defeats in the space of a few days when they lost to Newcastle United in the Carling Cup and then to Manchester City in the league. As a result,
Terry is desperate to help Chelsea get their domestic campaign back on
“It's obviously a big game at the weekend, the only good thing playing regularly is if you suffer a defeat you only have two or three days, not a whole week to think about it and dwell on the result. It's important you can get out there and show the fans
the way we can play, and it's important we get back to winning ways in the league now."
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