Ancelotti expects great things from Drogba and Anelka

Carlo Ancelotti believes Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka’s revitalised partnership will strike fear into the hearts of Chelsea’s Premier League title rivals.

The Italian manager saw his new charges extend their perfect start to the season with a 2-0 victory at Fulham on Sunday, sealed by a goal in each half from Drogba and Anelka.

The pair have not always gelled successfully during their time together at Stamford Bridge.

But former AC Milan coach Ancelotti has tinkered with Chelsea’s system, converting his midfield into a diamond formation and challenging Drogba and Anelka to dovetail neatly up front.

The results have been spectacular.

They were exceptional at Craven Cottage, with each player setting up the other’s goal, and Ancelotti has now challenged them to maintain their electric start to the new campaign.

“I was always sure Didier and Nicolas could play together,” Ancelotti said. “They are fantastic strikers and different players. I don’t know why it didn’t work with previous managers – it depends on the system you want to use on the pitch.

“Our idea for Nicolas was that he should stay a little behind Didier. In the first half, he played a bit on the wing, by the right-back, so our play wasn’t so good. In the second it was better as he played more in the centre.

“I see them play well together on the training ground but it is not only Didier and Nicolas who work well. All the players work well and then, when it is a match, they show that they work hard in the week by playing well on the field.

“It’s a great start for the team. We wanted to do this and we have great trust in our possibilities. We have to maintain this now. It is now important that the players have a good motivation.”

Chelsea are second in the Premier League table behind leaders Tottenham and, on this evidence, they will be there for some time to come.

Fulham never gained a foothold in the game, despite having enjoyed previous success against their local rivals, and once Drogba had fired Chelsea ahead in the 39th minute, the game was as good as over.

The goal stemmed from a delicious pass from Anelka, who slid a ball past Fulham defender Aaron Hughes and into Drogba’s path. The Ivory Coast international finished with aplomb and Chelsea were ahead.

The visitors duly took a stranglehold on the game, although Fulham were not killed off completely until the 79th minute, when Drogba played in Anelka, who rounded goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and rolled into an empty net.

It was a chastening afternoon for Fulham, whose woes were compounded when midfielder Danny Murphy limped off with a calf injury in the second half.

The former Liverpool player is now a doubt for the Cottagers’ Europa League tie with Amkar Perm on Thursday.

“To have a chance of beating Chelsea, we had to be much livelier than we were today,” said manager Roy Hodgson, who was also unhappy at being unable to give new signing Jonathan Greening his debut after his agent delayed signing registration forms.

“We kept them at bay for long periods and we had a decent shape but we didn’t get close enough to them to disturb them. In the end we lost the game and lost deservedly.

“But we have to get up for Thursday now – it’s a long journey but that is what Europe is about. We have to play much better there than we did here.”