Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has hailed the performance of Nicolas Anelka after the striker scored two goals and provided another as his side ran out 4-1 victors over Slovak side MSK Zilina on Wednesday.
Anelka first cut the ball back for an on-rushing Michael Essien to slot home after 13 minutes, before adding two goals of his own in the space of four minutes to put Chelsea 3-0 ahead inside the opening half an hour, with Daniel Sturridge adding a fourth just after the break to complete the rout.
"[Nicolas] Anelka was fantastic. A fantastic performance," Ancelotti told Sky Sports.
"We are very happy. When you are 3-0 up, it is important to maintain control of the game, [and] we did. We knew our positions. We used the counter-attack because we knew they liked to bring players forward.
"I was very happy with the way we started the game, we knew the opposition would attack so we used the speed of our strikers on the counter-attack. It was a very important win for us. We are doing very well at the moment - we have started well in the Premier League and the Champions League."
After years of disappointment in the Champions League, Ancelotti was coy over his side’s chances in this year’s competition but recognized the fantastic start to domestic and European competition that his side has made this season.
The Italian continued: "[Chelsea] are definitely moving forward. There was a good atmosphere. We [have] started the Premier League well and, now, the Champions League well."
Frank Lampard missed Wednesday's game due to a hernia operation, but his manager confirmed his "hope" that the England international would feature against Blackpool on Sunday.
Anelka first cut the ball back for an on-rushing Michael Essien to slot home after 13 minutes, before adding two goals of his own in the space of four minutes to put Chelsea 3-0 ahead inside the opening half an hour, with Daniel Sturridge adding a fourth just after the break to complete the rout.
"[Nicolas] Anelka was fantastic. A fantastic performance," Ancelotti told Sky Sports.
"We are very happy. When you are 3-0 up, it is important to maintain control of the game, [and] we did. We knew our positions. We used the counter-attack because we knew they liked to bring players forward.
"I was very happy with the way we started the game, we knew the opposition would attack so we used the speed of our strikers on the counter-attack. It was a very important win for us. We are doing very well at the moment - we have started well in the Premier League and the Champions League."
After years of disappointment in the Champions League, Ancelotti was coy over his side’s chances in this year’s competition but recognized the fantastic start to domestic and European competition that his side has made this season.
The Italian continued: "[Chelsea] are definitely moving forward. There was a good atmosphere. We [have] started the Premier League well and, now, the Champions League well."
Frank Lampard missed Wednesday's game due to a hernia operation, but his manager confirmed his "hope" that the England international would feature against Blackpool on Sunday.
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