Andriy Shevchenko has added to the intrigue surrounding his
non-appearance for Chelsea this season by admitting he does not
know why he has not played. The manager, Jose Mourinho, has
insisted that Shevchenko has not been match fit following a
niggling back injury. But Shevchenko, who played for 55 minutes in
Ukraine's 2-1 friendly win over Uzbekistan on August 22, appears to
disagree.
The striker is now back with the Ukraine squad to prepare for their
Euro 2008 qualifying ties, away to Georgia on Saturday and at home
to Italy next Wednesday. He is primed to start against Georgia. "At
Chelsea, I am not playing and I don't know why," he said. "I have
not understood this but I am waiting for my chance."
Shevchenko played in Chelsea's three matches on their pre-season
tour of the United States and then appeared in the subsequent
friendlies against Feyenoord and Rangers. He did not travel to
Denmark for the final pre-season friendly with Brondby but he did
train in the countdown to the Community Shield showpiece against
Manchester United on August 5 and expected to feature.
Mourinho has not included Shevchenko in any of his match-day squads
in the Premier League this season, most recently at Aston Villa on
Sunday. He signed Claudio Pizarro on a Bosman free transfer from
Bayern Munich over the summer to swell his attacking options that
already included Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, and Shevchenko
has been left under no illusions that he must fight for
prominence.
Abramovich has ordered Mourinho to play more entertaining football
and although the Portuguese is trying, starting with two wingers
and, until the defeat at Villa, two strikers as well, the team has
not yet clicked this season. A frustrated Abramovich made an early
exit from his Villa Park seat and he expects to see Shevchenko
return to action. Pressure will be on Mourinho to select him after
the international break, on Saturday week, when Blackburn visit
Stamford Bridge.
Meanwhile, Michael Ballack's Chelsea future will come under further
scrutiny after Germany's coach, Joachim Löw, yesterday claimed the
player was mystified by the club's decision to omit him from their
squad for the Champions League group stage.
Ballack was left out after his club insisted an ankle injury would
prevent him from being fit. But Löw, preparing Germany for their
qualifier against Wales, said: "I discussed it with Michael and he
could not fully explain Chelsea's decision to me. Chelsea's doctors
estimate he will not be able to play for two to three more months,
but Michael is much more optimistic and expects to play sooner. For
us, Chelsea's decision isn't justifiable."
