Source: Daily_Mail
Chelsea boss Ancelotti shrugs off star striker Drogba's month out in Africa
Carlo Ancelotti is confident Chelsea will cope without Didier Drogba next month. [LNB]Drogba has scored 19 times this season and his absence at the Africa Cup of Nations has robbed the Blues of the Barclays Premier League's most prolific striker. [LNB]Salomon Kalou, John Mikel Obi and Michael Essien will also be competing at the tournament, but it is the loss of Drogba that will have the greatest impact. [LNB] Big loss: Drogba will be missing for Chelsea next month[LNB]Ancelotti, however, is unperturbed by the Ivory Coast marksman's departure and looks to this season's Champions League campaign for reassurance. [LNB]'Didier has scored 19 goals but without him this year we've done very well,' said the Chelsea manager. 'We won three games in the Champions League when he wasn't playing and we can do the same in the Premiership.'[LNB]Drogba fired the equaliser in the 2-1 victory over Fulham, a result that restored Chelsea's lead at the top of the table to five points. [LNB]It concluded a challenging month consisting of two defeats, four draws and just two victories in all competitions on a triumphant note. [LNB]Chelsea's failings led to doubts over their ability to last thecourse in the title race, but Ancelotti is looking to January withrenewed confidence. [LNB]The loss of the African contingent istempered by a Premier League fixture list consisting of clashes withHull, Sunderland, Birmingham and Burnley. [LNB]Nicolas Anelka is also expected back for Sunday's FA Cup clash with Watford following his battle with a calf injury. [LNB] Missing: Nigerian Obi has also headed for Angola[LNB]Ancelotti added: 'December has been a difficult time because we lost some physical condition because we played many games. We also sustained some injuries. [LNB]'In January we will play just one match per week and this is good for us to improve ourselves and get fit. It will help the recovery of important players like Anelka.'[LNB]However, a Ukrainian coach who spent a week observing Chelsea has threatened to embarrass the Londoners by revealing that Ancelotti is dreading Drogba's absence [LNB]Metalist Kharkiv boss Myron Markevych said: 'Ancelotti is very concerned about the departure of leading striker Didier Drogba for the Africa Cup in January.[LNB]'Firstly, the lack of the Ivorian could affect the outcome of the championship in England. Secondly, it is unknown what form Drogba will be in when he returns.' [LNB]The ambitious 58-year-old arranged the internship with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich having previously observed Fabio Capello at work with Roma.[LNB]Metalist are third in the Ukrainian league going into the long winter break, chasing traditional power houses Dynamo Kiev and Shakhtar Donetsk, and were recently linked with a move for Real Madrid outcast Ruud van Nistelrooy.[LNB] Chelsea will win the title as United can't cope without Cristiano, says JoseChelsea legend Jose in Premier League return vow - but not until next seasonChelsea manager Ancelotti is so proud of his Blue battlers after Fulham win Chelsea 2 Fulham 1: Drogba and Kalou deliver victory after Africa Cup reprieveNo diving? As the tumbles continue, tell us who is the worst offender in the Premier League CHELSEA FC
