Sheva: I'm A Chelsea Fan For Life

[abramovich]

http://goal.com/en/news/596/exclusive/2010...-for-life-milan

It's been a relaxing winter for Andriy Shevchenko. The Ukrainian superstar spent a few days at Dynamo Kyiv's training camp in Israel, at the pastoralic historic village of Caesaria. Despite consistent back problems, which require him to fly frequently to his favourite clinic in Munich, he feels well and intends to play for a few more years.

"There are some medical issues, but the doctor says they are not serious, and I can continue playing as usual at the moment," 'Sheva' said exclusively to Goal.com. "I'm glad to be back at the team of my youth. We have a good squad and a great atmosphere."

When asked if the current side is capable of achieving success in Europe, like the one he led to sensational results in the Champions Leagues in the 90s, Shevchenko replies: "Why not? The players are very talented, some are just not experienced enough. We played great games in Europe this season, took the lead in both games against Inter, and in the home clash with Barcelona. We were just lacking experience and the killer instinct to get more points. Maybe we were not lucky enough."

Shevchenko knows Chelsea and Carlo Ancelotti better than most, and he rates their chances of success highly: "Ancelotti is a great specialist, and he has started his first season in England very well. He has a squad of great players at his disposal, and they are leading the table at the moment. For me, Chelsea are definitely clear favourites to win the Premier League title."

Sheva admitted he continues to support his former clubs: "All the teams I played for will stay in my heart forever. I wish them all the best, follow their results and will always support them. That goes not only for Milan, but for Chelsea as well. I am a Chelsea fan for life." He also keeps in touch with Silvio Berlusconi: "We spoke before Christmas, and wished each other happy holidays. We also had a discussion regarding the attack on him, but that's a private issue."

Regarding his relationship with Avram Grant, Shevchenko is positive: "Grant is a good coach. He did very well to guide Chelsea to the Champions League final, and it's not his fault that crucial penalty kick went wide. I think that if we had won that final, he wouldn't have been sacked. But that's the way life is for all coaches. They are judged by results."

The Ukrainian regrets not qualifying for the World Cup with his national side: "We had our chances in the play-offs against Greece, and they are not superior to us. We just failed to score, and that's why we are out." But Sheva will still be emotionally involved in the games in South Africa in the summer: "I will support Italy at the World Cup. I have many friends from Milan in the Italian squad, and since we are not playing, I will cheer for them."

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It's such a pity we've got Sheva at the twilight of his career, he could have been great had he arrived before he'd lost his pace.

Edited January 28, 2010 by abramovich

[SydneyChelsea]

Johnny come lately.

[BlueNose]

i still cant get why we let him go and kept kalou?

[Bridgeboy]

i still cant get why we let him go and kept kalou?

Ditto

[Plavi26]

Astronomical wages might be one of the reasons, injuries another, and the fact that Kalou outscored him during his time here. But Kalou should leave as well!

[deg0ey]

If he actually means what he says there, I have a lot more respect for him than I did previously. I can forgive him for not giving the level of performance everyone was hoping for when he came to us (maybe that was our fault for having unrealistic expectations?), but if he continues to love and support the team when he has moved on, then he's a better man than I realised.

[Alakuu]

Sheva's a good lad. Shame he didn't have the easiest time for us, but I'm glad he still likes us

[TheWestwayWonder]

Ditto

Definitely the wages. If I recall Sheva was on over 100k a week. And im sure his pride at being a massive flop got the better of him and he wanted to leave.

I love Sheva as a player, though, and I am glad to hear he is loyal to us despite what happened. Abramovich, I wonder the same thing, if the Sheva of 2003 played here it might have been a very different story

[Mod]

He is a good lad! He scored a wonder goal against the spuds, that alone warranted his wages and some respect from the fans!

[ivorycoast]

After a poor start to chelsea, when Drogba went to the ACN, Sheva stepped up and delivered, scoring crucial goals (even if his build up play wasn't the best). I still think he should have been subbed on by grant in the final to take one of the pentaltys, he might of been worth his price tag then!

The anti chelsea media was in full force, ripping him down at every opportunity. Berbatov went to Man Utd for the same fee and flopped also, where was the media on that one? Simple, becuase he plays for Manchester United.

He tried so hard to turn it around, and he was one of those players who I personally wished would score a goal, just so he could succeed at chelsea. The complete opposite of Kalou IMO, who didn't even celebrate when we won the FA cup last year, I bet you if Sheva had been collecting the medal he would be celebrating like there was no tommorrow.

[BlueDay]

I still love the bloke. It was never his fault he didnt perform for us. He gave 100% every game and what more could you ask? Not his fault if his legs were going either.

[dkw]

i honestly believe a lot of his problems stemmed from Jose not using him correctly, either because he was being stubborn after not being his signing or he just didnt know what to do with him.

[just]

One of my most favourite ever players, but was well past his best when we got him. Four or five years earlier and he would've taken the EPL by storm.

It was excruciating to watch him at times. Being done for pace and pushed off the ball so easily by average defenders who would have got nowhere near him in his prime.

[dkw]

One of my most favourite ever players, but was well past his best when we got him. Four or five years earlier and he would've taken the EPL by storm.

It was excruciating to watch him at times. Being done for pace and pushed off the ball so easily by average defenders who would have got nowhere near him in his prime.

it was horrible at times wasnt it. how he went from the player that destroyed the dippers almost single handed in that sh*tty final to the one we had. horrible.

[BigIzz]

Sheva in his prime would have been awesome. That player was so talented he would have succeeded on any team in any league in the world.