A strong Chelsea side, including Michael Ballack for the first time this summer, proved too good for a weakened Milan shorn of the likes of Kaka and Alexandre Pato.

But Scolari admitted it was the new-found ruthlessness and focus shown by Anelka that pleased him most just two weeks before the start of the Barclays Premier League season.

“This game was important for Anelka but more important for us – the fans, the coach and the other players who will have more confidence in him,” the Brazilian told www.chelseafc.com.

“Today was good not because he scored four goals but because he played more free and with more quality than in other games.

“He was playing against a big club and to get four goals against Milan, for his confidence it is fantastic and Anelka today and in the last game played more inside the penalty area than before.

“That is where I asked him to play and where I need him, not right and left as before, because we have one striker and that is Anelka.”

With Didier Drogba getting ever closer to returning to training after a knee injury, Scolari admits he has some tough decisions to make before meaningful action kicks off against Portsmouth on August 17.

“Maybe I will receive good news about Drogba and we have 12 days to train and maybe we will have something I don’t expect,” he said.

“I have quality, competitive players and they fight for places on the pitch. I have 22 here, five at home. I have a good team.”