Massive week for Chelsea

Massive week for Chelsea

Chelsea have set themselves up for a week which can see them stamp their authority on Europe and the BPL.

The brutal 4-0 destruction of 10-man Bolton - their seventh successive league victory at the Reebok - left nobody in any doubt about their credentials.

If they win away to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday they will secure qualification from Champions League Group D with two matches to spare.

And they can then turn their attention to champions Manchester United's visit to Stamford Bridge next Sunday, where they can put significant daylight between themselves and the rest at the top.

Didier Drogba scored his 10th goal of the season at Bolton while Nicolas Anelka terrorised his former club with a man-of-the-match display.

Bolton boss Gary Megson called him "cheap at £15million," while Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti went out of his way to praise Anelka's contribution.

Frank Lampard, who put the visitors in front from the penalty spot after Jlloyd Samuel was sent off for bringing down Drogba, said: "Nico has been fantastic all season. Along with Didier they are a great partnership.

"He (Anelka) has tremendous pace and balance, particularly when he runs at defenders.

"He is so cool, so we have two players who for me are the best at what they do in the world.

"Nico gives Didier space, he is clever and drifts wide. It is a whole new problem for defenders to cope with. He floats around and Didier has the power.

"Having Didier back (from his ban) in the Champions League this week will be great for us. It's a big boost, he's a top-class player in great form. Everyone would want him back and involved.

"Hopefully he can step straight into Europe and continue with his league form because he is scoring in every game now.

"He's neck and neck with Fernando Torres in the goals chart, but for me Didier is the best in the world because of his all-round game.

"He does not always get the credit he deserves for his finishing, and that is different class.

"He's a very unselfish player, a lot of things get said about him but we know he gives everything for the team and he has achieved a lot of assists this season.

"He is not just interested in scoring goals, although he does it very well. He wants to make goals, work hard for the team, head stuff out of his own box. That is the beauty of him."

Chelsea emphatically ended a run of two successive away defeats on what must be their favourite away ground.

Lampard said: "Year in year out I have enjoyed playing at Bolton, we win and I've scored. Some grounds do that for you and the Reebok is one of those for me.

"It was important to end the run of away defeats because to win championships you cannot just be good at home.

"Our away form is generally fine, apart from those last two matches (against Wigan and Aston Villa) so it was very important to get back to basics and do what we do well.

"We are very good on the counter attack and very strong. When you are away from home you have to break quickly and a couple of our goals were testament to that."

Megson was left to complain about the penalty decision - a perfectly correct one from referee Peter Walton - and probably get himself into trouble with a dig at the official, whom he has not seen eye to eye with in the past.

"It was a soft penalty, I have seen them given and not given," Megson said.

"Samuel didn't do anything wrong other than to try to get at the ball. I have no problem with Drogba, who took the ball across his body and there was going to be contact.

"The referee had a decision to make and when you get Peter Walton, penalties and Bolton, there is only one thing that is going to happen."

 


Powered by Disqus
  • Join us on Facebook Join us on Facebook


standard
 

  • ESPN is a trademark of ESPN, Inc and STAR is a trademark of Star Television Productions Limited. Trademarks used under license by ESPN STAR Sports.
  • Presented by ESPN, Star Sports, Star Cricket