Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti admits surprise at ability of Nicolas Anelka

Carlo Ancelotti admits Nicolas Anelka has given him a BIG surprise – by proving he’s more Le Superstar than Le Sulk.

Anelka has scored six goals for the Blues this season and provided a string of assists for team-mates Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard.

Now Ancelotti has revealed he is stunned by the quality of the former Gunner, who is transformed from the tetchy teenager once lambasted for being so miserable in his Arsenal days.

Ancelotti said: “I am very happy for him, he is a big surprise. I knew him before I came here – I knew his qualities. But now it is different – he has an important feeling for the way we play.

“I always thought he was an individual player but he plays very well for the team and that is important. He understands what I want and he helps the midfield to play.

“Also his understanding and feeling with Didier is very good. They have made a lot of assists for each other.”

Ancelotti admits in many ways the Frenchman has underachieved - until now.

“He could have been better, when he was young,” said the Blues boss. “But now he has found a very good experience, he is in the right moment. I’m very pleased with him.”

Chelsea are boosted by the return of Frank Lampard today after the midfield star recovered quickly from a thigh injury picked up on England duty.

Ancelotti believes his battle with Cesc Fabregas could be the key to success. He said: “They are both fantastic midfielders. Fabregas scored a lot of goals, as Lampard does, and they can be men of the match. I hope it is Lampard!

“We know it is very important to control midfield if we want to win and stop Arsenal.”