ANELKA: "There are no friends in football!"

I wondered being honest, how long it would take until we heard from either Nico Anelka or Alex after their departures from Chelsea back in last month's transfer window and it hasn't taken long.

The Sun over here in the UK leads with an interview Anelka has given about the end of his Chelsea career and claims he was left to rot with the reserves.

Anelka had refused to sign a new contract offered to him by the club and as a result, handed in a transfer request. He has since signed for Shanghai Shenhua in what he calls his "last contract".

Anelka spoke of what happened and said:

"Ever since I was punished they put me with the youngsters.

I've got all the kit and equipment that professionals have but they put me in a separate changing room — that's football for you.

One day, you can be there scoring goals and doing all you have to do for your club but the day you leave there is no pity.

That's why the day you do decide to leave you have to do what you have to do and have no sadness either, because there are no friends in football.

That's the truth. It's sad to say but that's the truth. It's a collective sport but it's also very individual.

I for one love Nico Anelka as I think he is a real class act. I wrote a tribute post to him before he left the club called "We never knew we had it so good" and I stand by everything I stated there.

News of what happened to him at the end of his time he will shock and disturb some people. From the clubs standpoint, he has no interest in staying and wants to leave so why should he train with everyone else and be part of match preparations?. From that standpoint you can understand him being kept away from the first team.

However, to treat him the way they did is uncalled for if you ask me as Anelka always gave it his best whenever he pulled on a blue shirt. Bearing in mind the situation with our results and performance around that time, we could have used Anelka until the day he walked out the door.

Who's to say someone at the club could have sat down with him, explained that they would work hard to find the right solution for the club and Anelka but for the time being he trains and works hard to give it his all for the club he is still an employee for?. I am sure being the professional Anelka is, he would have done so even if it mean't coming off the bench in every game. He would have done it knowing the club were trying to sort out the move he wanted and for the fans who have always supported him.

Am I wrong here about all this? Did Chelsea make a mistake in the way they handled Anelka or were they right to do so bearing in mind the player could have been a disruptive influence?

It's a difficult one to answer isn't it. What do you the Chelsea fan reading this think of it all?

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