Source: Daily_Mail
Carlo Ancelotti hails best strike force in Europe as Chelsea stop rot in Copenhagen
Nicolas Anelka eased the pressure on Carlo Ancelotti on Tuesday night as the Chelsea manager hailed his strike options as the best in Europe. [LNB]Anelka struck in each half as the Blues beat FC Copenhagen 2-0 in the Danish capital to put them on the brink of the quarter-finals and a step closer to the final at Wembley. [LNB]It was their first win since Fernando Torres - who was signed from Liverpool for a British transfer record of ?50million - had been in their side.[LNB]And a good night for Chelsea improved further as Tottenham, their rivals for a top-four spot in the Barclays Premier League, were beaten at Blackpool.[LNB]Read Matt Lawton's match report from Chelsea's comfortable 2-0 win in Denmark[LNB] In the Nic of time: Chelsea's Nicolas Anelka grabbed a brace in his side's crucial Champions League away win[LNB]Torres and Anelka started up front with Didier Drogba on the bench and, asked if his strikers were the best in Europe, Ancelotti said: 'Yes, I think so. We have fantastic strikers. I have to make a decision about the games, to put them in or not. [LNB]'Didier played for two hours against Everton. Torres and Anelka were fresh and, together, they played well. Frank Lampard also had a good combination with Fernando. [LNB]'We want to maintain their fitness, but rotation could do them good with the Barclays Premier League and the Champions League. They are accepting my decisions without problems and this is important. It's important to have them available.[LNB] Still no way through: Fernando Torres has yet to break his Chelsea duck[LNB]'Torres's performance was really good. There's a little bit ofdisappointment because he could have scored but it doesn't matter. Hismovement with Anelka was so good.[LNB]'He doesn't have to lose confidence because he didn't score. He's doing better game by game. He will score in the next game.'[LNB]Anelka's first came after 17 minutes, courtesy of an error from Copenhagen's former Chelsea winger Jesper Gronkjaer who gave the ball away. The French striker scored again after the break from a smart pass by Lampard, his seventh in six European games this season.[LNB] Benched: Didier Drogba was again the man to make way for Torres[LNB]Ancelotti said: 'We played with intelligence, showed good football, good efficiency, playing quick attacking play. We had a lot of opportunities to score. We don't have to be happy for Tottenham's defeat, but it was good news for us. [LNB]'This was the first half of this game. Now we have to play against Manchester United and try to put in the same performance as we did tonight.[LNB]'We're still alive. I had an idea before the game, and I maintain that idea now. It's just one game, though. I want to see my team play like that again, again, again.' [LNB] FC Copenhagen 0 Chelsea 2: Anelka hits Danish double to save Carlo's baconLIVE: Copenhagen 0 Chelsea 2 and Blackpool 3 Tottenham 1 - follow the action as it happensOffski? Zhirkov weighs up move away from Chelsea in search of actionUnder-fire Carlo insists Chelsea can taste Champions League gloryAll the latest Chelsea news, features and opinionMourinho hints at shock Chelsea return with Ancelotti under pressure[LNB] Explore more:People: Didier Drogba, Fernando Torres, Frank Lampard, Nicolas Anelka, Carlo Ancelotti Places: Copenhagen, Liverpool, Denmark, Europe
