Nicolas Anelka hails Chelsea defence
Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka today praised his club’s defensive line, claiming that the strength of the side at the back has allowed Carlo Ancelotti’s players to begin the season in impressive fashion.
In the first three English Premier League games, Chelsea have scored 14 goals and have netted in every domestic match for eight months. Former France international Anelka feels that blistering form has only been possible thanks to the sturdiness of the defence, who have yet to concede a single goal in the EPL this season.
Anelka told his club’s official website that: "We have the mentality not to concede first and then we know almost every time we can score one goal. You know when you play with Chelsea that if I don't score, Didier (Drogba) can score and if he doesn't score, [Florent Malouda] can score and if none of us score, [Salomon Kalou] can come on and score. Everybody can score in this team."
Praise for team-mate
The 31-year-old also took the opportunity to praise his team-mate Malouda, who is thriving in the EPL after struggling to settle when he arrived from Olympique Lyonnais three years ago. Malouda already has four goals to his name this season after grabbing two in the 6-0 opening day demolition of West Bromwich Albion, one in a 6-0 thumping of Wigan Athletic and another in the 2-0 defeat of Stoke City yesterday.
Anelka said that: "On the pitch (Malouda) is intelligent, he can score, he can assist and also he is very strong. Now he scores more goals than before and he wants to score more and more. He has been here three years and he has got used to it, he has more confidence. It is difficult to come from the French League and straight away to a big club like Chelsea. Now he knows the English Premier League and you see it on the pitch."
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