Jose Mourinho believes Andrei Shevchenko has finally 'got the
message' following the Ukrainian's well taken brace against
Wycombe, which helped Chelsea to the Carling Cup final.
Chelsea's record signing has cut a forlorn figure for the majority
of this season following his £30million arrival from Milan and he
has been cast as a key protagonist in the reported frosting of
relations between Mourinho and Roman Abramovich.
Despite having thrown his full backing behind Shevchenko in the
first part of the season, Mourinho has since grown exasperated by
his misfiring striker and prior to selecting him for Tuesday's
night's 4-0 success at Stamford Bridge, had banished him to the
bench.
While the inevitable speculation which emanates from West London,
with regards the internal disputes apparently prevalent, is
unlikely to ever disappear entirely, Mourinho is keen to state his
relationship with Shevchenko is no different to that which he holds
with any other player and that he has no problem with him on a
personal level.
On the contrary, the Portuguese tactician is hopeful that Tuesday
night's impressive display, albeit against League Two opposition,
could prove to the spring board Shevchenko needs to kick-start his
career in England.
"Sheva gave us what we need and it is not easy to do it with a
click of the fingers," said Mourinho. "This is Chelsea, it is a
Jose Mourinho team with specific qualities and a specific
philosophy.
"In football, in some issues, it is very simple. One of the
principles in my work is that the best players during the week, the
ones that work more and perform game after game, are the players
that get on the pitch.
"What I do with him, I do with every player. For me every player is
the same, it doesn't matter if he cost £30million and the other
£300,000, it doesn't matter.
"Players have to work and perform, if they work and perform I love
them, if they don't work and perform, I don't.
"I am very happy that Sheva got the message and I am very happy
with what he did. If somebody thought I was not playing him because
I have a personal situation with him - it is a very silly
thought.
"It is a thought from somebody that doesn't understand the game. I
want to win so I have to play the players I think are best for the
team. I don't play them because they have beautiful eyes, or they
are the first ones into training or the last to leave the
showers.
"It is not easy. He came here after seven years with another club,
he has a different manager and colleagues. Their philosophy and
mentality is the same as mine because they have been with me for
three years."
Mourinho was, though, willing to concede he has been frustrated
watching Shevchenko struggle to replicate his Serie A form in the
Premiership.
"The process is a frustration for everybody, especially for him and
for me," he concluded.
"But the personal relationship was always there and I think that is
very important. One thing is professional issues and another thing
is personal issues. The human relationship was always present. That
is why I always kept faith that he could do it."