Nicolas Anelka: Carlo Ancelotti must keep Didier Drogba at Chelsea

Simon Johnson
2 Jun 2009

Nicolas Anelka has urged new Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti to make keeping Didier Drogba at Stamford Bridge his first priority this summer.

Drogba's future in west London is in jeopardy after he upset the club's hierarchy with his behaviour following the Champions League semi-final exit to Barcelona last month.

The Ivory Coast international is expected to receive a lengthy European ban when a UEFA disciplinary hearing meets on 17 June and Chelsea are considering bringing his five-year stay at the club to an end.

Drogba has just 12 months left on his deal and the Blues are having second thoughts over offering him a new one.Chelsea have already met the representatives of Valencia striker David Villa for talks about a £40million move but Anelka insists they will be making a big mistake if they let Drogba go.

He said: “I want Didier to stay. We have had to wait one year to start together but we have shown in the last few months that we can play well as a partnership. This is good for the new manager and the club. They know we can play with two strikers.

“Opposition defences don't like playing against us and he helped me finish as the League's top scorer in the final few weeks. We are not just focused on our own goals, we put the club first.

I'm not the chairman or manager and they are going to buy players anyway, but we're strong.
“We can bridge the gap to United next season. We have a big squad, with big players, we just need to concentrate on next season and play like we did.”

Another possible target for Ancelotti, AC Milan playmaker Kaka, insisted today he does not want to follow his former boss to Stamford Bridge.

Kaka has also been linked with Real Madrid but he told Gazzetta dello Sport: “I'll say it for the last time. I don't want to leave Milan. In this period I prefer to remain silent because I don't want to be misunderstood. Or, worse still, to be used. I have said what I want to say. Leave me in peace.”

Kaka was the subject of a big-money bid from Manchester City in January but the deal collapsed, with the player insisting he had no desire to leave.

Despite the 27-year-old's fresh denials today, former team-mate Paolo Maldini still has doubts about Kaka's future at the San Siro and claimed the striker may just be playing the same games as his old manager.

“I don't know if he'll stay,” Maldini said. “Ancelotti might have been cryptic about his future but Kaka has been even more so in the past.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard expects Ancelotti to make a big impact in England.

He said: “I think it's a good appointment for Chelsea. I'm not so sure it's a good one for Liverpool though, we will have to wait and see. He is one of the best managers in the world.”