Anelka Impresses Scolari

It was amazingly a one sided affair in Moscow where the Londoners totally ran the show thanks to a great performance by Nicolas Anelka who smashed 4 past Milanese keeper Kalac.

Scolari admired the fact that Anelka was in top form scoring 4 goals in 60 minutes after which he was replaced by Shevchenko who again couldn't score. The frenchman who was played out of position last season is starting to flourish under his new coach.

Scolari said, "This game was important for Anelka but more important for us - the fans, the coach and the other players who will have more confidence in him,"

"Today was good not because he scored four goals but because he played more free and with more quality than in other games.

"He was playing against a big club and to get four goals against Milan, for his confidence it is fantastic."

"Anelka today and in the last game played more inside the penalty area than before," added Scolari.

"That is where I asked him to play and where I need him, not right and left as before, because we have one striker and that is Anelka."

And with Drogba getting ever closer to returning to training after a knee injury, Scolari admits he has some tough decisions to make before meaningful action begins.

"Maybe I will receive good news about Drogba and we have 12 days to train and maybe we will have something I don't expect," he said.

"I have quality, competitive players and they fight for places on the pitch. I have 22 here, five at home. I have a good team."

Chelsea Defeat Milan By 5 Goals - Match Report

Chelsea demolished the weakened Milan side thanks to the 4 goals houl by Nicolas Anelka. Milan were short of strikers as the Brazilian duo of Pato and Ronaldinho are away on international duty and the injuries to FIFA World Player of the Year Kaka and Borellio.

Frank Lampard opened the scoring before Nicolas Anelka bagged four goals as the Londoners won the third-place play-off in the Railways Cup pre-season tournament.

A strong Chelsea line-up saw Michael Ballack make his first appearance of the summer following his late return to the squad after Euro 2008 duty with Germany.

But it was his central midfield partner Lampard who put Phil Scolari's side ahead in the second minute when his curling free-kick went through the legs of Milan keeper Zeljko Kalac.

It was two in the eighth minute when Anelka latched on to a poor defensive header to fire home from the edge of the area.

And the Frenchman added a third 10 minutes later when Kalac's day went from bad to worse.

Attempting to clear a routine backpass, the Australian kicked nothing but air to allow Anelka to steal in and tap into an empty net.

Chelsea dominated the game and Shaun Wright-Phillips nearly headed a fourth soon afterwards as the Blues looked to make amends for their shootout defeat to Lokomotiv Moscow two days ago.

A Milan side with no recognised strikers, but featuring former Arsenal star Mathieu Flamini in midfield, provided little resistance and Anelka completed his hat-trick six minutes after the break.

Deco played in Florent Malouda down the left and the winger's cross found his countryman, who headed accurately into the corner of the net.

Remarkably if was four for Anelka and five for Chelsea in the 58th minute when another flowing move down the left ended with Malouda crossing once more for the former Bolton striker to volley home.

Drogba Set For A New Contract

Didier Drogba is set to be offered a new contract by Chelsea which would effectively put an end to a long running uncertainty regarding his future. Drogba expressed his anger and blasted the club for sacking Mourinho, thus speculations started to errupt regarding his future.

Luiz Felipe Scolari, is in regular contact with the injured striker and wants the club to agree a new £100,000-a-week deal to keep the Ivorian power-house at Stamford Bridge. Drogba's current sallery stands at £70,000 and has a contract which doesnt run out until the July of 2010. The new terms would be on the table when Felipao n the players return from their preseason tour.

It is understood, Drogba has convinced manager Scolari that he has his heart with Chelsea and he is ready to fire on all cylinders for the next season.



The Ivorian said, Chelsea want to speak and I am open to that. Money is not the decisive factor. If Chelsea put their confidence in me, it will be possible to accept the proposal.'

Gilliani Again Rules Out Sheva Swoop

Adriano Galliani has again quashed reports that the former Balloon d'Or winner is set to join the Rossoneri any soon. Scolari today has indicated that the Ukranian hitman wouldn't be in the starting lineup for their season opener against Pompey giving air to the specultions that it might be an end of a dismal spell for Andriy in England.



"In Europe, the prices for players are impossible," said Galliani

"It's right for us to have the right mix of players such as well established ones like Ronaldinho and young players like Cardaccio and Viudez.

"As for Shevchenko and Kaka? Those players are under contract with their clubs and they will not leave.

"Neither player will leave Milan or Chelsea and there is no point in disturbing them."

Wright Phillips Wont Quit Chelsea

Wright Phillips has impressed his new boss a lot and has been in good form lately. Though He has had a good preseason, he admitted the chance he missed against Moscow should have been put away by him.

He said, "I had a chance and should have scored which would have killed the game, and I am upset with myself because in training I always make the keeper work. I didn't this time.

"There were other chances but now move on and we have to get back on par with how we played in other games."



He added: "I was nervous walking up even though it was only a friendly tournament. We practiced them the day before and I just stuck with what I had done there. I took a side-footer and hit the post, the rest I drilled into the bottom corner so I did that.

"It was disappointing and we keep losing on penalties - we're not happy about it."

"It's nice for the boss to say I am an important part of the squad and I'm not really a person to quit on anything either.

"My room is everyone's meeting point, so we're just chilling and having some banter. It brings us all together - we've been mainly playing computer games

"There are a few bad players, but I won't mention any names! Joe Cole has been mentioned previously I think, but he has done okay."
"I can fight for my place as long as I am here and will continue to do so."

Frank 'Wanted To Leave' - Reveals Moratti

The owner of current Italian Champions Internazionale has revealed that he is certain, Lampard wanted to leave Stamford Bridge to rejoin with his predecessor Mourinho in hunt of a new challenge.

Moratti told Sky Sports Italia, "Was I disappointed by his attitude? Not at all, I found him to be very serious and focused.

"He wanted to leave Chelsea, I am certain of that, although it created a lot of anxiety for him and in fact he remained because of family matters.

"He stayed for his father, who he is extremely close to, and for his whole environment. Therefore he was unable to create that split that they expected and we were hoping for."



"Mourinho did hope for this move, but we knew it was going to be difficult.

"So instead we thought of a player who in terms of age and wages is a good deal: I am happy that Sulley Ali Muntari has arrived."

Cech- Chelsea Simply Have To Win Silverware

Cech who has always been considered as one of the most dependable shot stoppers in the world admitted that the Players were devastated last season by the team’s failure to land any silverware.

“To not win anything was a new experience for a lot of us," said the Czech International

"It was a strange feeling. It was very disappointing because we want to be first, we don't want to be second. It has given us the motivation for the new season.

“No-one has had to say anything to each other in the dressing-room about putting it right - everyone knows that second place isn't good enough for Chelsea.

"We want to win trophies. That is what the aim has been from the moment we all turned up for pre-season training."

Sheva First To Face The Chop

Big Phil has put an end any hopes of Sheva being a regular 11 by saying that the former AC Milan fan favorite would be left rotting on the bench for their season opener against Pompey on August 17, 2008. The Ukranian has had a miserable two years at the Bridge after the Blues payed a British record fee of 31 million euros to the Milanese side.

Felipao suggested that he would have a struggle to break into his Chelsea side in the coming campaign. Sheva again had a nightmare when he missed the only spot kick of the shoot out yesterday, leaving Felipao with his first defeat of Chelsea reign.

Scolari said: "I came here to this tournament to look at my team for the game against Portsmouth and I need to prepare my team for that game.

"If I have a chance to put three or four more players into the game, I will. If not, I will follow my idea for the game against Portsmouth.



"I'm not thinking about giving Shevchenko a game. If I need to put him or Franco Di Santo in the game, I will, but my idea is about Portsmouth. I know 75% of my team. Now, maybe 85%."