Anelka: I Was Left To Rot By Chelsea

NICOLAS ANELKA has laid bare the nightmare end to his Chelsea career � and pointed the finger at boss Andre Villas-Boas. The Frenchman, who is currently pre-season training in Spain with new club Shanghai Shenhua, still cannot believe how his time at Stamford Bridge came to such an humiliating finish. Anelka was made to train with the youth team and forced to use separate changing rooms away from his first-team pals before his shock move to China. He was even told to park his car with the reserves. The striker was a key part of Carlo Ancelotti's league and FA Cup Double-winning side of 2010 and was the Premier League's top scorer in the 2008-09 season with 19 goals. But under-fire Portuguese boss AVB ruthlessly dumped him and defender Alex after it became clear he was not going to sign a new contract. Anelka may have had a reputation of being a moody Blue but he reckons he is not a troublemaker. The striker blames Villas-Boas and says the manager made him realise there are no friends in the sometimes cruel world of football. AVB's strange treatment hit Anelka hard. He said: "Ever since I was punished they put me with the youngsters. "I've got all the kit and equipment that professionals have but they put me in a separate changing room � that's football for you. "One day, you can be there scoring goals and doing all you have to do for your club but the day you leave there is no pity. "That's why the day you do decide to leave you have to do what you have to do and have no sadness either, because there are no friends in football. "That's the truth. It's sad to say but that's the truth. It's a collective sport but it's also very individual. "It's true that I could have had a better career but I know I've succeeded and I'm proud of that when I go back to France, back to the suburbs I came from, the guys there are proud of me. "They know I never gave up. I took plenty of knocks but I'm still here. "Shanghai is Asia's New York. I love the way they live here. I often come here on holiday. This is my last contract." Villas-Boas may have treated Anelka like dirt but that is nothing new for the former Arsenal, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Bolton and Manchester City striker, who has never been able to win over the sceptical French media. He may have scored a key goal which helped Les Bleus see off the Republic of Ireland in the controversial World Cup qualifying clash two years ago � but that still was not enough for some. Anelka added: "After all the ups and downs I've had with the France team I had the impression that I had done something good for my country for once � something positive. I was pleased with myself. "But, no � it wasn't enough. The Press didn't want it to be me and that hurt. It really hurt.'"After that I thought 'OK, World Cup or no World Cup, I couldn't care less'. "That will stay with me for the rest of my life. When you know you've done your duty and accomplished your task and yet they come along and stick a knife in your back, well, frankly, that hurt a great deal." Anelka, who denies snubbing a chance to rejoin Ancelotti at mega-rich Paris St-Germain last month, admits his three-year deal in China will be his last contract. Super League side Shenhua have already turned heads by appointing former France midfielder and ex-Fulham boss Jean Tigana as manager and are chasing Anelka's old Chelsea strike partner Didier Drogba. The Chinese outfit are also eyeing a shock swoop for Stoke centre-back Matt Upson, 32. Club official Ma Yue reckons they are in talks with the former England defender Upson but declined to give a timeline for the negotiations. Ma said: "There is nothing confirmed. We are still in the midst of discussions."