After seeing his side taken apart by Manchester United, Phil Scolari might have things could not have gotten any worse for his Chelsea side. If rumours are to be believed, the defeat was only the start of the problems.

Substitute striker, and top scorer, Nicholas Anelka was furious with Scolari for asking him to play wide on the left and told his boss he would only play down the middle. Scolari’s response was to leave Anelka out altogether and go with Didier Drogba upfront on his own.

Drogba’s performance was so poor, so utterly wretched, with no effort, end product or desire, it is easy to see how Anelka’s mood would have only worsened.

But even when he came on in the second half, Anelka’s performance was below par, like most of his teammates and so perhaps Scolari will feel vindicated in leaving him out. But it might be at the cost of a sulking Anelka for the rest of the season. And if there is one thing Nicholas Anelka knows how to do, it is how to sulk.