Former Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka was not expected to go into football management by many people who coached him and who have been close to him. The striker recently completed his move to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua at the end of the January transfer window.
Despite being only 32 years of age, Nicolas Anelka has already taken up the mantle of being the player manager at the Chinese club. Despite spending a lot of money in the transfer window, the club was not able to get the desired results under manager Jean Tigana. The arrival of Nicolas Anelka into the managerial hot seat is a new one for the club.
The striker is hoping that the club will be able to do something like Chelsea in the final few months of the campaign. Chelsea struggled under new manager Andre Villas-Boas for much of the campaign, but eventually decided to sack him at the start of March. They appointed assistant manager Roberto di Matteo in charge of the team till the end of the season. It has proven to be a great decision by the club after the Italian has led the club to FA Cup glory, while the possibility of more glory in the form of the Champions League still awaits the club.
‘Changing the coach has provided (Chelsea) with a lot more space for imagination. The change of coach has set the club free in many aspects and that is why they are in the final. There is a great possibility and a great chance for them to win the Champions League. I wish them all the best. We will try our best to work on the positives with the change. Of course, Chelsea is Chelsea and Shenhua is Shenhua,’ Anelka said after being appointed as the player manager of the club.