Avram Grant: I never wanted Anelka
Sacked Chelsea manager Avram Grant has revealed he never wanted to sign Nicolas Anelka.
The Frenchman, 29, became the world's most expensive player when the Blues paid Bolton Wanderers £15 million for his services last January.
Anelka currently leads the Premier League scoring charts with 13 goals, 12 more than he scored during the 2007-08 season for Chelsea.
Grant, sacked by Chelsea after defeat to Manchester United in the final of the Champions League, singled out Anelka for criticism after the striker initially refused to take a penalty – his saved spot-kick ultimately handing United the trophy and sealing Grant's fate.
"Some of the players there [at Chelsea] have problems that you can't find at a children's team," Grant told Israeli TV.
"I didn't really need Anelka last season and told him so. He is a good player but needs to have more passion."
Grant, who has been linked with the managerial vacancy at Sunderland, is adamant he has not been given the recognition he deserves for saving Chelsea's season after Jose Mourinho left the club in September 2007.
"When I came to Chelsea the team was in bad situation - I improved it. The players and I together took a team on the way down to a historical moment and a great season," he added.