Nicolas Anelka Praised By Carlo Ancelotti

Chelsea also got their Champions League campaign off to a good start last night as they comfortably saw off MSK Zilina 4-1 away from home.

Nicolas Anelka found the back of the net twice last night, as well as setting up the opening goal for Michael Essien in the thirteenth minute and manager Carlo Ancelotti believed that the striker was key to their victory.

Speaking to The Press Association he said: "If I have to judge the performance I am very happy because it's not easy to win 4-1 away in the Champions League.

"Every game in the Champions League is hard to play. We started very well in the first half, we played fantastic football, the second half was different.

"Zilina put more pressure on our defence. The back four did a good match. When you are 3-0 up it's normal to have more difficulty.

"The key was Anelka, he played a fantastic game. 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.

"I think that Petr could do better with the goal we conceded but we faced a lot of crosses. We had to put more pressure on the wide side. Defensively the back four had a good game.

"I hope to watch my team play a fantastic game for 90 minutes. Obviously I was a player so I know sometimes there are difficult times, the opponent can come back in the game."

It took Chelsea just thirteen minutes to find the back of the net as Yossi Benayoun slid the ball into Anelka who found Essien just twelve yards from the goal.

And while Zilina did try to hit back when Cech spilled a ball from Robert Jez their resistance didn't last long as Anelka scored twice in the space of just four minutes to give Chelsea 3-0 lead before half time.

Chelsea could only manage one more goal in the second half as Sturridge went round the keeper in the forty eighth minute to make it 4-0.

Zilina did pull one foal back in the fifty fifth minute as Chelsea goal to ease back but the London side looked comfortable and cruised to the full time whistle.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw