Chelsea make light of Drogba absence

Carlo Ancelotti believes Nicolas Anelka has shown he can cover for the loss of Didier Drogba following the striker?s two-goal display in the 7-2 thrashing of Sunderland.

Drogba is on international duty with Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations, leaving Anelka as the club’s senior striker during January.

Anelka?s display against a hapless Sunderland suggested he is ready to rise to the challenge as Chelsea took their tally to 12 goals in two games without their four-strong contingent of African players.

Ancelotti said: “We played a lot of times without Didier and Nicolas did very well in the past. And also he did very well today. Nicolas is a fantastic striker, he is a top striker, and we are very happy to have him in our squad.”

Midfielders Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel are in Angola along with Drogba’s Ivory Coast team-mate Salomon Kalou but Ancelotti is satisfied he has sufficient strength in his squad to compensate for their absence.

“I think that was maybe the best performance this season, we played very well until the end of the match,” he said.

“We started the game very well. I’m very happy because it’s an important time for us. Without the African players we maybe could have some problems. I always said I have a fantastic squad and today other players played very well. I think for us it is a good moment for us.

“I think these are important matches for us because I think we can also play without the African players.

“We missed important players because Didier is an important player for us, also the others. I have a fantastic squad and in this period I will use other players.”

The result against Sunderland will inevitably be seen as significant in the context of the Premier League title race but Ancelotti insisted his only concern is his own team?s form and not that of his rivals.

“We don’t want to send a message to the other teams,” he added. “I think this performance for us is very good because it improves our motivation, and improves our determination to do better if possible.”

Chelsea’s victory was so comfortable, Ancelotti was able to withdraw Ashley Cole and John Terry at half-time.

Cole picked up an ankle knock scoring his side?s third goal while Terry was rested ahead of a gruelling schedule of games.

“Maybe the best goal was Ashley’s goal,” said Ancelotti. “Fantastic movement, fantastic dribbling and a fantastic goal. Then he had a problem with his ankle so we took him off for precaution.

“John doesn’t have a big problem. It was precaution because we didn?t need him. It will be no problem for the next match.”

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is hopeful his lengthy injury list will be reduced ahead of their next game, the FA Cup meeting with Portsmouth.

He said: “We hope that we’ve got four or five back next week and that will give everyone a lift and a boost because it’s been a struggle over the last six weeks to be without eight, nine, 10 of your first-team players. We hope we get a few back and that will give everyone a lift.”

And the manager refused to rule out a move into the January transfer market.

He added: “The one thing I?m not going to do is panic over the hiding we’ve got at Chelsea, they can do that to a lot of teams. If there is anybody available we’ll have a look at it, but I can’t envisage me being ultra busy, that’s for sure.”