Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko has revealed his deep
dissatisfaction with manager Jose Mourinho and says he has had
"better coaches."
"He is professional, no more and no less. He is a tactical fox and
has strict ideas, but I've had better coaches," Shevchenko told the
website of German TV channel ARD this week.
"It is the first time in my career that a coach has said publicly
that I don't fit in with his concept.
"That is not exactly great for motivation. If that is what he
really thinks, then why am I here?
"We had a meeting and he said his opinion had been twisted. But
deep inside it still bothers me. If the owner asks me what I think
of the manager, then I will speak my mind."
The Ukrainian who has been written off as a 30-million-pound flop
by the British media after his move from AC Milan last year claimed
he had become a pawn in the deteriorating relationship between
Mourinho and Chelsea's billionaire Russian owner Roman
Abramovich.
"It is no secret that I was more on the wish list of Mr Abramovich
than the coach's," Shevchenko said.
"But Mourinho was very positive and happy with me in the transfer
talks. Then a few months ago I suddenly became a target for him
because he was having a spat with the chairman."
He also admitted he was struggling to adapt to life in
London.
"I am here in body, but not in spirit. In January I wouldn't have
been opposed to being sent out on loan, but that is not an issue
any more."
He said he felt he was less comfortable in the Chelsea tactical
setup than at Milan, where he was the undisputed target man.
"At Chelsea everyone is responsible for joining in the attacking
moves, which is a plus point, but for me personally it is very hard
for me to make an impression," he said.
Shevchenko helped to steer Chelsea to a place in the quarter-finals
of the Champions League on Tuesday, setting up the crucial goal for
Michael Ballack in the 2-1 win over FC Porto which gave the
Londoners a 3-2 victory on aggregate.
