Malouda: It could have been nine!

CARLO ANCELOTTI has a dream – and it could turn out to be a nightmare for everyone else in the Premier League.

The Italian is a perfectionist, and at Chelsea, he has the twin task of wresting the Premier League title back from Manchester United after a three-year absence, but most importantly doing it in the style required by Roman Abramovich.

The Russian billionaire was happy to see Jose Mourinho end Chelsea’s 50-year wait for the league title, but not so happy with the way they played. Too often Chelsea would just do enough to win the game and then shut up shop.

But Ancelotti will not settle for anything less than a full 90 minutes’ worth of entertaining and winning football, as shown in the destruction of a depleted Sunderland side.

Even without four key players, away at the African Cup of Nations, Chelsea were too good for Sunderland, who were badly hit by injuries and suspensions.

Led by Nicolas Anelka, the Blues were 3-0 up within 22 minutes and finished with seven top-flight goals for the first time since Jimmy Greaves scored five against West Brom 50 years ago.

Having preserved his side’s lead at the top of the league, Ancelotti then said the words that will send a shiver down the spines of his rivals.

“My dream is to see my team play like this every game,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s possible but we want to try. This was probably our best performance of the season. We had a very good combination up front. Nicolas moved very well, Malouda was moving well for Lampard and Ballack and the midfield played very well.

“We hit the post twice. Yes we could have scored more but seven is good.”

Chelsea’s final goal came in the final minute, when Frank Lampard headed home his second of the game. “We want to play for the whole 90 minutes,” added Ancelotti. “I said at half-time to play the whole 90 minutes and not to sit back. Why would we do that? The people pay the money for their tickets to see the game for 90 minutes not just for 45 minutes.”

Ancelotti knows that the most demanding spectator is his boss. “This team is the owner’s, not mine. It is the team of Roman Abramovich and I am honoured to train them. He likes to see Chelsea play like we did today.

“If we give enjoyment to our fans it’s good, it’s one of our aims and if we continue to play like today it’s very difficult to lose a game.”

This, remember, is meant to be the period when Chelsea may wobble, with four players in Africa, but December was the cruellest month for them, with only two wins from eight games in all competitions.

“It is important to improve our confidence,” added the manager. “After a not very good December we have started January very well so we have to continue.”

Steve Bruce is in no doubt that his old boss Alex Ferguson has his work cut out if Manchester United are to retain the title.

“I said it in August – whoever finishes above this lot will win the league. But I’m not really interested where they finish – I am more concerned about my team.”

Bruce admitted it was painful to watch and called his side’s defending ‘inept’, but was loathe to criticise captain Lorik Cana, drafted in as an emergency centre-half. The Albanian midfielder was at fault for most of Chelsea’s goals, but Bruce said: “Cana has played there for his country and for Marseille too, but I played him out of position today.

“There were too many round pegs in square holes. To be fair I had nobody else so I had no alternatives. At this level against a team like this, you get found out.”

Anelka opened the scoring from close range in the eighth minute, before Florent Malouda made it 2-0 nine minutes later with a long, low shot.

Ashley Cole added a third with a neat finish and Lampard slid home the fourth before half-time.

Ballack made it 5-0 in the 52nd minute, heading home Joe Cole’s cross, before Bolo Zenden hit back with a volley against his former club.

Anelka scored his second and Chelsea’s sixth from 15 yards, Lampard headed in the seventh, before Darren Bent scored for Sunderland in stoppage time.

“When we move the ball quickly, there’s not a team who can touch us,” said John Terry, the Chelsea skipper.

Their rivals have been warned.

Referee: Chris Foy 7 –had the perfect referee’s game – you hardly noticed him. Never had to produce a yellow card and kept control of the game superbly.

Match rating ***** – You cannot ask for more than nine goals in a game, with Chelsea producing their finest performance of the season, albeit against a weakened Sunderland. Some slick football from the Blues.