COPENHAGEN - Carlo Ancelotti believes Chelsea's 2-0 win over FC Copenhagen proved his forwards are capable of firing the team to Champions League glory.

After the misery of last weekend's FA Cup exit against Everton, Nicolas Anelka gave Blues boss Ancelotti some much-needed breathing space as his double-strike put Chelsea within touching distance of the Champions League quarterfinals.

Defeat against the Danish minnow in the last-16 first leg at an icy Parken Stadium could has proved fatal for the under-pressure Ancelotti, but Anelka's lethal finishing ensured the Italian won't have to worry about being frozen out just yet.

Ancelotti opted to leave Didier Drogba on the bench as he played a 4-4-2 formation with Anelka and Torres spearheading the attack.

Anelka showed his class as he netted two clinical finishes to take his tally in Europe this season to seven goals in six games, while Torres went close to breaking his duck following his blockbuster move from Liverpool.

Drogba has been out of form lately but he remains a formidable option to have on the bench and Ancelotti insists the trio won't complain about being rotated to keep them fresh for an assault on the Champions League.

Asked if they were the best in Europe, Ancelotti said: "Yes, I think so. We want to maintain their fitness, but rotation could do them good with the Premier League and the Champions League.

"They are accepting my decisions without problems, and this is important. To have them available at the moment, it's important at this time of year.

"We have fantastic strikers. I have to make a decision about the games, to put them in or not.

"Didier played for two hours against Everton. Torres and Anelka were fresh and, together, they played well."

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 02/24/2011 page24)