Anelka - Blues are favourites

18 August 2009 07:44
Nicolas Anelka has labelled Chelsea as favourites to win the Premier League and does not believe Liverpool and Arsenal will be in the title race at the end of the season. The Blues striker expects a fight to end Manchester United's pursuit of an unprecedented fourth successive piece of league silverware, but he is confident. Anelka feels new Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has the ability to guide the club to success after a hard-fought, late win over Hull City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The France star believes victory over United, who sold Cristiano Ronaldo this summer, in the Community Shield gives evidence of potential and he is now keen for glory in all competitions. He said in The Sun: "For me, Chelsea are the favourites to win it this year. United will be strong and don't let anybody kid you that they won't be just because they sold their best player. Confident"Arsenal and Liverpool have some very good players but, when it comes down to the last five games, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if it was only United and Chelsea left fighting it out. The games against United will be very important and we are already one up on them this year after the Community Shield. "We owe them for last season and we are confident that they will not make it four in a row. "Our manager is a legend and a born winner. There is nobody at this club who doesn't have a winning mentality. It filters down right from the top, from the manager and the chairman. They know what they want and we know we have to deliver. "With what we have in place here, I believe Chelsea can be victorious on all fronts this season." Anelka, who was the 2008/09 Premier League's top scorer, has also reiterated his belief that he and Didier Drogba can work as a strike partnership, despite critics suggesting the pair cannot play together. Fear"I really mean what I say. If we consistently play together, we can become the most feared strike partnership in Europe - and that includes the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona," he added. "There are some great strikers in world football at the moment, like Fernando Torres and David Villa. But when you really need a goal, there is no better man to look to than Didier. "He never gives up and his attitude for the team is fantastic. For me, he is the most complete striker in the world."

Source: SKY_Sports