Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas is running out of patience with misfiring striker Nicolas Anelka and gave the Frenchman both barrels after Sunday’s 1-0 defeat by west London rivals Queens Park Rangers.
The news casts more doubt on the striker’s long-term future at Stamford Bridge, with the club not even starting talks over a new contract despite the fact that Anelka could leave for nothing in the summer.
Anelka missed a glorious headed chance in the closing stages of Sunday’s game at Loftus Road with his side down to nine men and chasing the game.
Paying the penalty: Nicolas Anelka misses his spot kick against Everton and reacts (below)
Villas-Boas, who was already seething at referee Chris Foy’s display, ripped into Anelka in the Chelsea dressing room, Sportsmail can reveal.
But the Portuguese manager’s tirade does not appear to have had the desired effect, as Anelka then went on to miss a penalty in Wednesday night’s extra-time win over Everton in the Carling Cup.
The 32-year-old, who was a Champions League winner with Real Madrid in 2000 and the Premier League’s top scorer in the 2008-09 season, has scored just once in his last 25 appearances for Chelsea.
Rocket man: Andre Villas-Boas is believed to be unhappy with Anelka
That record leaves him vulnerable in a star-studded squad where Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba and Daniel Sturridge are all ahead of him in the goalscoring stakes this season.
Now with the manager rapidly losing patience, it is looking increasingly likely that Anelka will be leaving west London in the summer.
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