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