Source: Daily_Mail
Even FA Cup win won't soften blow of Champions League agony for Chelsea striker Anelka
Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka could still finish the season with some silverware but an FA Cup triumph on Saturday will not erase the pain of missing out on the Champions League.
The Blues take on Everton at Wembley on Saturday, just three days after Manchester United and Barcelona contest club football's premier prize in Rome.
Anelka is still devastated by Chelsea's controversial defeat to the Catalan giants on away goals in the semi-final after referee Tom Henning Ovrebo ignored four penalty appeals.
The France international was particularly desperate to get to the final to face United again after missing the crucial spot kick in the penalty shoot-out last year, which handed the trophy to Sir Alex Ferguson's side.
And Anelka will not be tuning in to see if the Red Devils can defend their title.
He told the Evening Standard: 'I won't be able to watch the Champions League final. I don't know about what the other players will do but I won't. Everyone knows what happened (in the semi-final) and so I don't want to watch it. I don't feel like I can watch it.
'Winning on Saturday will help heal some of the wounds, but there will still be a feeling inside. It's a shame.'
The striker will at least be going to Wembley high on confidence after his superb shot at Sunderland on Sunday secured his place as the Premier League's top scorer with 19 goals.
However, he will take more satisfaction from ending the season with the FA Cup, having yet to win a trophy with Chelsea since he joined from Bolton 16 months ago.
He added: 'To finish top scorer is good, but now it's in the past. On Saturday we have a big game. I haven't won anything with Chelsea so I want to do it this week. We will try to do our best for us and for our manager because he is leaving after that.
'I have only won the FA Cup once, with Arsenal in 1998, and I will do my best to try and score like I did then, but the most important thing is to win the game.'
The 30-year-old is also convinced he has finally secured his long-term future at Chelsea and will be back next season to help them win more trophies.
Anelka has been constantly linked with a move since joining from Bolton for £15m last year and it was reported earlier this month that he would be sold to raise funds for new signings.
But the striker feels he has succeeded where other big name strikers have failed and made an impact at Stamford Bridge.
When asked if he felt he'd proved a point by finishing as the season's highest scorer, he said: 'I think so. It is not easy to come from Bolton to play for a big club like Chelsea and to finish the season as top scorer. I know a lot of strikers have had a difficult time at Chelsea, but as I said when I signed, I know English football and I always try my best on the pitch.'
Meanwhile, Chelsea are confident Frank Lampard and Alex will both be fit to start against Everton after missing the game at Sunderland with knee and abdomen problems respectively.
