Andriy Shevchenko was left on the bench again as Chelsea coach Mourinho admitted for the first time last night that he was a “worried man”. For the fourth Premiership match in succession Chelsea’s once impenetrable defence conceded twice and, as against Reading on Boxing Day, they could manage only two in reply, and are now six points adrift of the leaders, Manchester United. Mourinho said: “Yes, I’m worried. If we were at the top of our form it wouldn’t be a drama, the drama is that we’re not. We cannot defend. We concede incredibly easy goals and in attack we have only one player (Didier Drogba) performing.”

Fulham, to their credit, were full of vim and vigour in their ultimate local derby, and deserved the draw which leaves them unbeaten in their last four. They sought to combat the champions by mirroring their system, placing Michael Brown in the Claude Makelele role. Chris Coleman, Fulham’s manager, was well satisfied. “If we could stay in the game, we felt they might get a bit nervous and they did,” he said. Full of good intentions, Chelsea fashioned two chances for Michael Essien, the man of the match, in the first four minutes and Salomon Kalou should have scored when, five yards out, he failed to make contact with Essien’s centre from the right. Andriy Shevchenko would give a king’s ransom, or a week’s wages — whichever is the greater — for such a chance.

From Timesonline Sport

Sheva again looked desperately off the pace as Chelsea struggled to a two each draw at Stamford Bridge to Reading. He was subsequently replaced by Shaun Wright-Phillips after 58 minutes.

Chelsea and more notably, Jose Mourinho, must now consider that the two points dropped were two points squandered against a Reading team that was surely there for the taking.

Didier Drogba headed Chelsea in front from Frank Lampard’s corner seven minutes before half-time.Reading responded after the break and it was no surprise when Leroy Lita headed a deserved equaliser from Glen Little’s cross after 67 minutes. Drogba’s header swiftly restored Chelsea’s lead, but Reading levelled after 85 minutes, Ashley Cole’s clearance flying in off Michael Essien. The Blues are now at home to Fulham and away to Martin O’Neill’s less than convincing Aston Villa and should consider 6 points a necessity if they are to keep the pressure on Manchester United.  The Red Devils beat Wigan 3 - 1 at home yesterday.

From BBC Sport

Roman Abramovich has spent millions since taking over at Chelsea in 2003, but he’s not satisfied, in fact he told The Observer: “Our strategy is to bring up our own players through the academy, which we have invested a lot in, and hope it gives results.”

“We will be spending less in the transfer market in future years.”

However, he did confirm that he does influence Chelsea’s business in the transfer market, although he insisted that boss Jose Mourinho has the final say: “I am not involved in team selection. I cannot say I am completely not involved in buying players but my role would be significantly lower than that of the manager’s.

You cannot compare them. To give an example, this would be an impossible situation where a manager does not want a player to be bought and I try to impose ideas. It would not work.”

It follows reports that suggested Abramovich was behind the decision to buy the Ukrain striker Andriy Shevchenko for £30m from AC Milan in May.

FRIENDS…

At the end, talking about his relationship with Mourinho he said: “We do not have friendly relations but they are warm enough. Generally speaking, I treat him with great respect.”

From: BBC Sport

There are two schools of thought on Andriy Shevchenko.The charitable view says he just needs time, eventually his class will show and he will prove to be worth the £30million Chelsea forked out for him last summer.

Then there are those who believe he is the biggest striking turkey in Chelsea’s history.That is saying something when you consider Mateja Kezman, Adrian Mutu and George Weah have pulled on the blue shirt in recent times and that the club once paid £10million for Chris Sutton only for him to score one goal in 12 months before departing for Celtic for £6million.

Shevchenko has gone from the sharp striker who lifted the European Footballer of the Year prize with AC Milan to the diffident individual whose confidence is shot to bits and whose shooting looks to have gone the same way if one particularly embarrassing example against Everton is anything to go by.Whichever way you look at it Shevchenko’s current turmoil is one of football’s most spectacular falls from grace.

His confidence cannot have been helped by the fact that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has publicly excluded him from his line-up of ‘untouchables,’ a list which perplexingly includes the underperforming Michael Ballack. The ridicule of AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi also cannot have been good for his karma. Berlusconi, who claims Shevchenko moved to Stamford Bridge because his supermodel wife wanted to live in London, told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “A true Milanista and a real man would not have behaved like this. At my home I’m in charge and decide what happens. Instead, when Shevchenko’s wife shouts, he runs under the bed like a lap-dog.” It was a devastating attack on a proud footballer and probably harsh on Shevchenko, but if true it is an indictment of Chelsea’s spending policy which allows them to squander £30million on a 31-year-old with an eye on relocation rather than ambition.

It is in sharp contrast to the way of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson whose new short-term signing, Henrik Larsson, has arrived this week for nothing, relishing a new challenge, and who might just supply the striking alternative to assist United’s title push. The irony, however, is that, with the season near its halfway mark, there is only one serious striking candidate for player of the year so far and that is Didier Drogba - the man who Shevchenko initially was bought to replace. It is not just Drogba’s 10 league goals - and 16 in total - to lead the scoring charts which have been so impressive, although his portfolio of great goals, including Chelsea’s winner against Everton, have been outstanding. It is the way he has responded to being the focus of Mourinho’s plans, whatever the formation, whether as a lone striker or in tandem with Shevchenko. His work rate has been phenomenal, his hold-up play precise and his eye for goal uncanny. He has combined the essentially English qualities of an Alan Shearer-type barnstorming front man with the more subtle skills of a continental-style striker.

On the way he has gone from being an out-and-out £24million flop at Stamford Bridge, a man with no touch, to being Mourinho’s most consistent ‘untouchable,’ even if he could perfect the transformation by staying on his feet in the penalty area more often. Without Drogba’s goals, Chelsea, who for all their power and strength in depth still have to hit any rhythm this season, might already have surrendered their Premiership title. As it is they remain hard on the heels of Manchester United this Christmas with two contrasting strikers. One who might prove to be the golden goose. The other an out-and-out turkey.

From The Sporting Life

Once again, Andriy Shevchenko was left to warm the bench for the first 73 minutes as Chelsea performed a ‘get out of that’ trick to deny unlucky Everton.

It was Didier Drogba’s brilliant long-range volley - from a headed assist by Sheva - that clinched the points for Chelsea after a thriller at Goodison Park.

Mikel Arteta’s first-half penalty put Everton ahead after John Terry’s stand-in Khalid Boulahrouz hauled down the ever-threatening Victor Anichebe.

Chelsea levelled when Michael Ballack’s free-kick hit the post and deflected in off the back of the diving Tim Howard.

Joseph Yobo headed Everton in front before Frank Lampard’s looping equaliser made him Chelsea’s top scoring midfielder and then and Drogba’s late winner.

Chelsea are now only 2 points behind the previously high flying man Utd who lst at Upton Park in Alan Curbishley’s first game in charge of the Hammers.

From BBC Sport

Sheva was yesterday branded his wife’s lap dog by Milan president Silvio Berlusconi.

The controversial former prime minister’s blistering attack should put an end to any hopes wantaway Shevchenko may have had of returning to the struggling team who are most definitely second fiddle to high-flying Inter. The blast is even more amazing when one considers that Berlusconi is godfather to Shevchenko Junior.

However, Shevchenko will be staggered by billionaire Berlusconi’s comments, made at the Milan Christmas party.The former Italian Prime Minister said: “A true Milanista and a real man would not have behaved like this. At my home I’m in charge and decide what happens. Instead, when Shevchenko’s wife shouts, he runs under the bed like a lap dog. His wife, Kristen, ordered him to London with their children where the fog will do their lungs the world of good.” Obviously Berlusconi has never been to London or he is ignoring the fact that his own city is the fog bound capital of Italy.

Just last week, Berlusconi called Shevchenko and begged him to return to Milan, but Sheva’s answer is unreported. Shevchenko was last night backed by Milan vice-president Umberto Gandini, saying “Sheva is probably the best striker in the world but he is also a very humble man.If he was a different personality — the kind of bighead you often find with strikers — then maybe he would have handled this differently. Others would be complaining at the style Chelsea play. How it doesn’t suit him and that there is no service to him. How can they expect him to score goals? But Sheva has a great deal of humility and instead stays quiet and tries to adapt. He is a team player who does not want to upset the dressing room. What I would say to Chelsea fans is that I have seen Sheva develop over the last seven years. When he came to us from the Ukraine it was like he had arrived from Outer Space! He didn’t know the language or the game and struggled badly like he is now. But he will score goals in England. He left Milan the best forward in the world and that has not changed.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea were yesterday paired with boss Jose Mourinho’s former club Porto in the Champions League last 16 while Milan drew Scottish giants Celtic.

From thesun.co.uk

Milan president Silvio Berlusconi has indicated he would love to have Andriy Shevchenko back in the red and black shirt. Speculation over Shevchenko’s future continues to roar in the aftermath of Chelsea’s 1 - 0 win over Newcastle at Stamford Bridge last night. Chelsea’s goal was the result of a scuffed shot by Sheva which was then buried by Didier Drogba. Both players had unexpectedly started from the bench.

The story that started with Shevchenko admitting that Mourinho’s system did not suit him, and the Chelsea coach responding by suggesting that the forward was not untouchable and needed to do more, has had another page added to it with the Milan supremo opening the San Siro doors publicly. “If it were my call, I would bring Shevchenko back immediately,” said Berlusconi. “We must not forget that he wanted to leave. Even I could not stop him. But I would welcome him back with open arms.”

However, he did admit that it looked unlikely at the moment, with Chelsea reluctant to let him go: “To be honest, it looks difficult right now, because I don’t think Chelsea want to let him go. We must wait and watch.”
From: Goal.com

Sheva flopped back into the realms of anonymity at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday as Chelsea were held to a one each draw by Arsenal.This leaves the Blues 8 points behind Man Utd, who disposed of their City neighbours by 3 goals to one.

In a match more memorable for the booking of returning Ashley Cole and piece of theatrics between Didier Drogba and Jens Lehman, it looked as though Sheva’s return to form with a goal in the Champiuons League was to prove an isolated incident. To make matters worse for Shevchenko, his substitution proved to be a turning point for Chelsea as Arjen Robben came on and immediately started things going for the Blues. Arsenal went one up through Flamini after good work by Hleb but the Gunners didn’t stay in front too long. After a mere 6 minutes, Essien picked the ball up in the midfield from a stray Lampard pass and fired in a sweet 25 metre shot that left Lehman grasping for air.

Any more performances from Sheva similar to this one, and who knows? Maybe Abramovic will listen to offers from anyone - the latest bizarre rumour being that Inter may be ready to move for the unsettled Ukranian in return for Alvaro Recoba and a significant cash payment. This would further embarras city rivals AC Milan, who faltered once more in drawing at home with Torino, even finding time for Alberto Gilardino to miss a penalty. What would THEY give for Sheva to be back?

Original article by Natty

The claim that Chelsea would never release Sheva, despite all the rumours surrounding his future, was made today from a Ukranian source. This contradicts the fact that Chelsea boss Mourinho is being widely quoted in the British press that Shevchenko was not one of nine “untouchable” players on his team. The stuttering striker has scored just three Premier League goals but managed to open his Champions League account this week.

The notion that Shevchenko, unhappy with his surroundings or unable to meet expectations, might return to Milan or even go back to Dynamo Kiev has generated great speculation in Ukraine.Chelsea said quotes attributed to the striker in a Russian magazine interview, in which he said he could not please Mourinho, had been mistranslated.Ukrainian coaches and players said the idea of cutting Shevchenko loose was out of the question.”It’s sheer nonsense. Why should Andriy leave Chelsea? Is he really playing so very badly?” Serhiy Rebrov, Shevchenko’s long-time strike partner at Dynamo Kiev and the Ukrainian national team, told the daily Sport-Express. Maybe he’s not scoring 20 goals per season like in Milan but let’s be clear, he’s working more for the good of the whole team now … It seems to me Shevchenko’s team mates like him.”

Rebrov, who returned to Kiev last year after a troubled five-year spell in English football, acknowledged that Shevchenko’s “adaptation has been a long one. In Italy he fitted in, learned the language, became an idol. England has a different way of life. But he will manage.” Dynamo Kiev coach Anatoly Demyanenko said he doubted Mourinho would ever let the Ukrainian go. “I have practically no doubts that Shevchenko will stay with Chelsea. Even if he passionately made the case for leaving, it’s not altogether certain they would let him go,” he said. “Mourinho would not act against his own interests. In London, Shevchenko has had to become more of a team player. And it clearly is working.”

Dynamo president Ihor Surkis dismissed any notion that Shevchenko was failing to perform for Chelsea. “Andriy is playing in a stable fashion and doing what he is supposed to do - score,” he continued. “Could he come back to Kiev? I don’t think that’s realistic, but if Abramovich agreed to loan Shevchenko to another club, I would not rule out talks. Why should others lay claim to Andriy and not us?”

From Reuters

Andriy Shevchenko revealed doubts about his Chelsea future today saying that he would be ready to leave Chelsea if Jose Mourinho decides he does not fit into his plans. The Ukraine star has scored just three league goals since his £30.8m summer move and has been linked with a return to AC Milan and Newcastle.

“I feel at home here at Chelsea and it’s felt like my team for a long time but unfortunately my game doesn’t suit Mourinho. Roman Abramovich is my friend but all he could do was insist on a loan deal instead of me being sold,” he said.

An interesting claim indeed, and one would have to wonder if Abramovic were forced to choose, whose side would his hat come down on. It is an open secret that ultra ambitious Mourinho will not be shackled by any club owner. A Mourinho on the open job market would be a sore temptation to any aspiring club.

Sheva, who scored his first European goal for Chelsea in Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League win over Levski Sofia, said he had not discussed his future with the club. However, he added, “But if it happens, I am ready to pack my bags. I’m a completely self-confident person. If I don’t suit somebody then I’ll go back to Italy and prove how good I can still be. I’m not finished as a player. On the other hand I have nothing to prove. Everybody knows what Andriy Shevchenko is capable of.” For any other mere mortal it may smack of sounding off, but when it’s someone of Shevcenko’s character, it may be prudent to listen.

Abramovich lured the forward to Stamford Bridge on a four-year contract in May in the belief that he would provide the goals to win the Champions League and to be fair, he looked more comfortable against, albeit pretty poor, Eurpoean opposition. He is still considered a hero by most AC Milan fans after he helped them win European club football’s greatest prize in 2003. Milan’s own domestic predicament would not preclude any interest in their former player as they have been nothing short of woeful recently.

Adapted by Natty from BBC Sport