Chelsea front man Nicolas Anelka has brushed off suggestions that the Blues will struggle without Didier Drogba while he's at the African Nations Cup. However, Stamford Bridge boss Carlo Ancelotti is busy altering Chelsea's tactics in order to cope with Drogba's absence.
Anelka, 30, said: "When Didier was out earlier in the season, and then when we were hit with the transfer embargo, some people expected us to falter.
"But we play as a team and we all want to win the Premier League and the Champions League - and if anything it helped the team spirit.
"Obviously it's better when Didier is here but I will do my very best to score the goals."
Meanwhile Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has revealed how he will change the game plan to cope with Drogba's absence and in doing so has admitted that the Blues do not have a satisfactory replacement for the Ivory Coast international.
Instead of relying on an alternative striker such as Daniel Strurridge, Ancelotti will alter the shape of the team utilizing Anelka as a lone striker supported by Deco and Joe Cole .
“[The new line-up can work] as long as everyone’s willing to sacrifice, and keep things balanced,” Ancelotti said. “I think when the African players go away in January this will be the ideal solution: using one forward, Anelka, with Deco and Cole behind, and Lampard in midfield."
