Didier Drogba has praised his Chelsea strike partner Nicolas Anelka, insisting they have a mutual understanding and have developed together on the field. Drogba has been in sensational form this year, whilst Anelka hasn't been amongst the goals as often as last year, but Drogba considers the Frenchman crucial to his own success.

Drogba said of Anelka: "Rather than starting a war between us for the only position in attack, we always did our best to impose our partnership.

"We both had great faith in it. Ancelotti has been the first to trust us in attack. We didn't need to convince him, he really wanted it. We quickly felt that partnership would be part of the balance of that team.

"Ancelotti has started something at Chelsea and we are lucky to both be a part of it. The partnership is instinctive. We think about the same piece of football at the same moment.

"I have to admit it is much more comfortable for me to play beside Nico in attack. I am less tired after the encounters. Sometimes I am even surprised after the end of a game: 'What happens? I am not exhausted.'

"We saw ourselves as team-mates. Maybe that is the secret."