Stop moaning Nicolas Anelka, Chelsea CAN be a force without Didier Drogba

16 September 2009 15:09
Chelsea were made to work hard for a 1-0 victory in the opening Champions League group match against Porto last night, and goalscorer Nicolas Anelka admitted that his job is made much harder in the absence of strike-partner Dider Drogba. The Blues laboured in the torrential rain at Stamford Bridge and, after the match, Anelka admitted: 'It's better when he's in the team. We miss him when he's not there. 'We miss his physical impact and my position on the pitch is different, so I feel I have to change.' The duo have picked up seven goals between them already this season but the belief that the Stamford Bridge club do not prosper without Drogba just doesn't stand up. Under Luiz Felipe Scolari and Guus Hiddink last season, Chelsea played a total of 59 games. Drogba featured in 42 of those with a 57.1 per cent win rate. However, the Blues notched up victories in a remarkable 82.3 per cent of the remaining 17 matches. And there weren't more goals flying in with the Ivorian around either - Chelsea averaged 2.09 goals per game with him in the side and 2.05 without. Drogba will be the first to admit that he wasn't at his best last term, and made it clear that he didn't see eye-to-eye with Scolari. But the Ivorian still has plenty to do this season if he is to regain his 'irreplaceable' tag.

Source: Daily_Mail