Match Report: MSK Zilina 1 - 4 Chelsea

Chelsea cruised through their opening Champions League game with a demolition of Slovakian side MSK Zilina in Group F.

The damage was done in the opening half with two goals from Nicolas Anelka and another from Michael Essien.

Daniel Sturridge added a fourth early in the second-half before Tomas Oravec scored a consolation for the home side.

Zilina began impressively with Momodou Ceesay firing high over the bar in the fourth minute.

The small ground was at its capacity of 11,000 and the home side were giving their fans something to shout about in the early stages.

Chelsea won their first corner in the ninth minute but Yossi Benayoun sent his shot into the arms of Martin Dubravka.

The English champions then wasted a free-kick on the left edge of the penalty area when Sturridge fired high over the bar from 20 yards.

But the Blues went in front in the 13th minute with a simple goal. Essien put Anelka clear on the left wing and when the cross arrived, Florent Malouda stepped over it for Essien to fire home from eight yards. It was the Ghanaian's third goal in two games.

Zilina almost levelled in the 15th minute when a free-kick from Robert Jez was fumbled by Petr Cech but the Chelsea goalkeeper managed to stop the ball going into the net.

Zilina's Bello Babatounde then headed straight at Cech in the 23rd minute after a fine cross from Ceesay.

But Chelsea went 2-0 up in the 24th minute when Malouda put Anelka clear and the former France international slipped the ball under Dubravka.

Sturridge almost made it 3-0 in the 27th minute but his 25-yard drive was tipped around the post.

But the Blues punished the home side from the corner which followed when John Terry's header hit the bar and Anelka pounced to score his second from point-blank range.

Malouda should have made it 4-0 in the 37th minute but his shot was blocked by Mario Pecalka after Yury Zhirkov had pulled the ball back to him from the touchline.

Cech was forced to make a fine save four minutes from the break when he dived to push a shot from Admir Vladavic to safety.

Zilina then squandered a real chance when Babatounde headed wide from an unmarked position on the edge of the six-yard box.

However, Chelsea increased their lead in the 48th minute when Benayoun played a superb ball through for Sturridge who rounded the Zilina goalkeeper and slipped the ball home.

Zilina responded immediately and Cech was forced into a fine save to deny Vladavic.

The home side finally reduced Chelsea's advantage in the 55th minute when Cech spilled a cross and the ball rebounded off Branislav Ivanovic before Oravec bundled home.

Zilina then went close to getting a second when Vladavic sent a rising drive just wide and substitute Tomas Majtan was inches away from hitting the target with an angled drive in the 65th minute.

Chelsea was living dangerously, but with a three-goal cushion they could afford to.

Ancelotti was distinctly unhappy on the touchline as the home side attacked in numbers.

The Slovakians had to be admired for their endeavour although Chelsea were hardly in top gear in the second half.

With 10 minutes left, Chelsea opted to hand a full debut to 17-year-old midfielder Josh McEachran. He replaced Benayoun who was applauded off for his fine performance.

Essien forced a fine save from Dubravka in the 82nd minute as the Ghanaian midfielder looked for another goal but it was the last real action of the game as Chelsea ran out easy winners.

Anelka Explains Goal Gesture

Nicolas Anelka fired two first-half goals to put Chelsea on the way to a comfortable 4-1 victory over MSK Zilina and then revealed the meaning of his 'handcuff' goal celebration.

Anelka set up Michael Essien's 13th-minute opener before scoring twice himself after 24 and 28 minutes as Chelsea cruised to victory in Slovakia.

Daniel Sturridge scored his first Champions League goal three minutes after the interval before Zilina's Tomas Oravec netted a consolation for the home side.

Anelka, banned by the French Football Federation for 18 games because of his part in the World Cup mutiny, was hailed as the "key" to Chelsea's victory by coach Carlo Ancelotti.

The 31-year-old has since insisted he will never play for his country again but admitted his gesture was aimed at the French authorities and he knows other France players will understand.

"It was just something for the French Federation about what happened at the World Cup," said Anelka.

"What happened in summer is in the past, now I'm 100% focused for Chelsea."

When asked if he would ever consider playing for France again, he replied: "No, never. It was just a joke about what happened. I'm not angry."

Anelka's movement in attack in the absence of the suspended Didier Drogba was pivotal, according to a satisfied Ancelotti.

"The key was Anelka, he played a fantastic game," said the Italian. "He created space, he had opportunities, he was the key for this game.

"He can play the position in front, sometimes we use him more wide, sometimes he plays in the middle but he shows the same skills if he plays wide."

Malouda: London Calling

Florent Malouda admits even with just one group game completed, Wembley is on the players' minds as we pursue European glory.

This season's Champions League Final will be held at the national stadium in north-west London, an arena that has been both kind and familiar to Chelsea in recent years, with 10 appearances there since its reopening in May 2007.

After our 4-1 win at Zilina, in front of 11,000 spectators in a damp Slovakia, Malouda admitted the glamour of the Final seemed a long way off, but by no means unimaginable.

'We have it in mind because it is Wembley, it is like our home, and we try every year,' said the Frenchman. 'Of course we are at the beginning and trying to finish first in the group, and we have to play game after game. We will see in May if we can be at Wembley.'

On a soggy night without key players Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, the goals continued to flow - four in Zilina make it 21 for the season in five games - and Malouda believes other teams need to beware of our potency in front of goal.

'I think that's our strength, we play a system where everybody knows what he has to do and players come in and out and the result is still the same,' he explained. 'Everybody can score and it is difficult for the opponent teams.

'We have to maintain that good atmosphere and keep our focus because we play every competition to win, obviously it will be difficult but we have to be really hungry.

'We're playing good football but every game is different and at the end we made scoring look easy but we just try to start each game playing well first and look for an opportunity. That's what we did.'

Michael Essien's strike after 12 minutes was his third in two games, and his team-mate is delighted the Ghanaian is back and firing after seven months out at the end of last season.

'He is a machine, a train, and I am really happy to see Michael get his fitness,' said the 30-year-old. 'He is playing full of confidence, he is top and he is scoring goals. I think he will give more to the team and the best is still to come.'

Nothing could be more ominous for opponents Blackpool this weekend, though with Lampard hopeful of a return, it may be that he takes a more defensive role than the one he has fulfilled in the England man's absence.

Daniel Sturridge Hoping For More First-Team Opportunities After Scoring Against MSK Zilina

Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge is hoping that he will get more first team opportunities after he scored during the 4-1 win over MSK Zilina on Wednesday evening.

The 21-year-old sealed the win with Chelsea’s fourth of the night and he was pleased to get off the mark for the season, stressing that he wanted to feature more for the first-team.

"It was great to get off the mark this season. Hopefully I will be playing a lot more with these players. Hopefully I will show my abilities," Sturridge told Sky Sports.

The former Manchester City striker also praised the way the team set about what could have been a difficult away trip.

"We wanted to play the ball, work it, make sharp movements and defend well - it paid off for us in the end," he added.

As well as getting off the mark for the season, Sturridge’s goal was also his first in the Champions League, and he is keen for it to be the first of many.

"Scoring in the Champions League - I have been dreaming of this since I way a young boy, hopefully there is many more to come," he continued.

"I was delighted be a part of this and hopefully I’ll be playing with these world class players to make my grade."

The only minor blemish in Chelsea’s display was their failure to keep a clean sheet, but Sturridge still believed that the team defended well on the whole.

"I think the boys played some great football at the back today, Zilina had the fans behind them and the defence played pretty well today all in all - the defence played quality tonight," he added.

"We came out here to win and were delighted to do that. The Champions League is a knockout competition and it’s fantastic for the team."

Ancelotti Hails Nicolas Anelka's Performance In Champions League Win Over MSK Zilina

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.

Chelsea Tracking Spanish Teen Strike Sensation

Chelsea are scouting Malaga starlet Juanmi after the teenager's emergence as one of Spain's hottest properties.

Real Madrid and Barcelona are also keeping tabs on the 17-year-old forward, who scored twice against Real Zaragoza on Sunday.

Juanmi became the youngest ever player to score a brace in the Primera Liga and that has attracted the interest of Spain's super-clubs, but Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti also been alerted.

The player has only just signed a new five-year contract at Malaga, but the deal includes an £8m buy-out clause.

Malaga boss Jesualdo Ferreira said: "He could go very far."

Junami's agent Javier Dieguez added: "This is not a surprise for us but for now he is focused on doing well for Malaga."

Chelsea Player Focus - Branislav Ivanovic

The emergence of Branislav Ivanovic as a major influence in the Chelsea defence may have caught many by surprise. After Carlo Ancelotti was forced to rotate personnel in the hope of filling the void left courtesy of a knee injury to Jose Bosingwa, the Serbian - who joined Chelsea initially as a centre-half - was next in line.

Having joined the club in January 2008, he had to wait until October of that year for his first Premier League appearance. Featuring only 16 times in the 2008/09 Premier League season ensured Ivanovic was determined to grab hold of the opportunity of minutes on the pitch afforded to him by Bosingwa’s absence. The start of the Serbian’s tenure at right-back mirrored what was to be expected when shifting an uncompromising central defender into an area where they would receive more of the ball, and often expected to generate attacking moves. Cumbersome and rigid, the 26-year-old’s limitations stood out but were masked as the Blues’ superiority swept teams aside.

However the unforgiving nature of Chelsea’s play encouraged Ivanovic to be more active. Wave after wave of attack on the opposition’s penalty area incited the man put at right-back to merely ‘do a job’ into surpassing any expectations put on him, excelling as a foil to Ashley Cole, who was rampant on the left flank. The turning point in Ivanovic’s approach came within a week in December. Having created two goals against Everton, he was brought down following a foray into the area, enabling Frank Lampard to convert the penalty and record a priceless win. From there on he has evolved into a competent attacking right-back highlighted by his surging run and assist for Solomon Kalou in the Champions League tie away to Inter.

Ivanovic has proven to be aerially adept in both boxes - just ask Liverpool fans. A brace of headers at Anfield in the Champions League continue to build his rapport with the Stamford Bridge faithful whilst Liverpool’s European dreams crumbled. The Serbian’s dominance at right-back last season earned him a place in the PFA Premier League Team of the Season, a clear indication of his progress.

For all his sturdy defensive work last season, Ivanovic’s fling with the Chelsea right-back slot could be on the rocks. He has played there just twice so far in the league this campaign - with one of those outings as a 60th minute substitute as his side held a 3-0 lead over West Bromwich Albion - preference going to natural right-back Paulo Ferreira. He featured in the position in Chelsea’s opening Champions League group victory MSK Zilina on Wednesday but in the wake of Ricardo Carvalho’s re-acquaintance with Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid, Ivanovic’s presence is required in the middle of defence, allowing him to establish himself alongside captain John Terry. Whilst Ivanovic is still an infant in terms of central defenders, another year learning under Ancelotti is likely to reap a second season decorated with success.

Reserves Head North For Second Test

The reserves recommence their league season away at Newcastle United this evening after a three-week break.

The new format of second string football has freshened up the fixture list, making trips like this to the north east an attractive part of the calendar, and coach Steve Holland is looking forward to the challenge.

'The season got off to a great start in terms of playing at Stamford Bridge against Everton, another side not usually in our region and this follows it up nicely, at St. James' Park, which makes it two great venues to have played in,' he reported.

'It's been a frustrating two weeks with the international break, it would have been nice to have had another couple of games in the bag by now, but the break impacts on the reserves group as much as the first team, so I am sure the lads will be looking forward to playing again.

'Newcastle has a very good academy with good players, they are back in the Premier League now, and you are always guessing with regards to the make-up of a reserve team squad and whether they will have senior players in it or not.

'They played Sunderland recently and played very strongly, so either way we expect them to have very good players. Their youth team got to the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup last year, losing narrowly to Aston Villa, so we could quite easily have played them in the Final last year. I am sure it will be two well-balanced teams and a good game.'

Wednesday night's Champions League game against MSK Zilina means Holland will be without a number of promising talents, but he still expects a number of exciting youngsters to be involved.

'The Champions League squad travelled to Slovakia, so Patrick van Aanholt, Fabio Borini, Josh McEachran and Sam Walker, who all played in that first game of the season will not be involved on Thursday, so that's terrific in a way but it does mean they are unavailable, and now Michael Mancienne is out on loan at Wolves, so it will be a younger team than that one against Everton.'

One man expected to be involved is the scorer of last season's FA Youth Cup winning goal, Conor Clifford, who this week signed a new contract that lasts until 2012. It has been confirmed he will come up against former Arsenal, Spurs and England defender Sol Campbell, who is still working towards full fitness and will start for the Magpies.