Anelka turns nasty with Chelsea boss Avram Grant over shoot-out saga

Anelka refused to take one of the first five penalties in the Champions League shoot-out in Moscow and claimed it was because he had not been given enough time to warm up before coming on as a substitute.

Le Sulk: Anelka exits Moscow after that miss

He also took a swipe at Grant for failing to play him in his preferred central position since his £16million move from Bolton in January.

"I'd spent almost 100 minutes on the bench and then all of a sudden they asked me to play, less than a minute after sending me to warm up," Anelka told L'Equipe, after joining the France squad ahead of Euro 2008.

"I don't think something like this can have happened in a European Cup Final before, where a player is sent on to the pitch without having warmed up properly.

"When the game went to penalties, Chelsea asked me to be one of the first five takers. But I told them it was out of the question. I come on as a virtual right-back and you want me to take a pen!" Anelka, 29, took the seventh spot-kick.

It was saved by Edwin van der Sar to clinch victory for Manchester United. "I decided to put the ball where I did and Van der Sar saved it, that's all the better for him," said Anelka, known as Le Sulk, who replaced Joe Cole.

Juliano Belletti came on in the final seconds and did not touch the ball before stepping forward without complaint to take the second penalty.

He scored, as did sub Salomon Kalou, but Anelka's outburst seems to be an eruption of frustration. The striker, who is on a three-year deal, has been given few chances to play as a centre forward, scoring only twice in 24 appearances.

"I have never played in my proper position just behind the main striker," said Anelka. "It's always either out on the left or on the right. I did not come to play on the wing. When I arrived they told me I would play in a 4-4-2 system.

I could have played with Didier Drogba, but we never even got the chance in training. In games we must have spent a total of half an hour together up front.

"I haven't said anything until now as I've been a new boy. But next season I will no longer be the little novice."

It is the first dissenting voice to be heard since the Moscow defeat and has not impressed the hierarchy, who feel a striker earning £90,000 a week ought to be able to take a penalty when required. They will launch their own disciplinary procedure.

Anelka will get little sympathy with France, as Franck Ribery says he is ready to tease his teammate over that Moscow miss.

"Sure, I'll do it - maybe not just yet, though," said the Bayern joker. "He could have an axe or a hammer in his bag!"

The Chelsea board have also lost patience with Drogba, who concluded his own petulant season with a needless red card in the final.

The Ivory Coast captain, who cost £24m from Marseille four years ago, is up for sale at £20m. AC Milan may be tempted after Real Madrid's interest cooled.