Nicolas Anelka: Chelsea Can Challenge Weakened Manchester United

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Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka believes Manchester United will be weaker this season as they attempt to defend their Premier League title. The Red Devils have allowed Cristiano Ronaldo to join Real Madrid while they could not coax Carlos Tevez to sign a permanent deal this summer. Anelka still expects United to be competitors, but is confident his club has a great chance of securing a league triumph. "I don't think Manchester United will be as strong this season because Ronaldo has gone [and] Tevez has gone. Maybe that will give us more chance to win this title and to be stronger than United," Anelka told The Daily Telegraph. "United are still a strong team, [Sir Alex] Ferguson is a good manager who knows how to do it and they will be like they are every season – very strong. But maybe this season, because we have a strong squad and everyone is together, we have a better chance." Anelka is also hopeful of an extended run in the first-team, leading the charge with Didier Drogba as a front two. He added, "I think we can be the best partnership in England because we are strong together as a pair. "I always want him to score, he wants me to score and we like to play together and we will get chances to score. "What is possible is to win the Premier League because if I play with Didier we will both get chances to score from each other. We have a good understanding."