Relief for Sheva
22 Oct 2006 - 13:54:36
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- Relief for Sheva
Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko made no attempt to hide his relief at finally ending his goal drought during Chelsea's 2-1 win against Portsmouth on Saturday.
The goal was the 30-year-old's first at Stamford Bridge since his £30million summer arrival from AC Milan and ended a two-month barren spell in club football.
Shevchenko said: "My first goal at Stamford Bridge was very important for me. I thank everyone in the team and I thank the people in the stadium.
"They have been very important for me and today I am very happy.
"It was a great moment for one player who has changed his team, changed country and changed everything."
Jose Mourinho, who saw his side climb to the top of the Premiership table with the victory, was thrilled for his big-money buy.
"Finally the goal is there so hopefully he will get confidence and now I can put him on the bench," the Blues boss told the club's official website.
"It was nice for him to score a goal for us, a very important goal. But not just a goal. In the first-half, he had good actions; the sprint on the left side when (Noe) Pamarot tackled him and the action for the save of the match was also good.
"He has two goals. He's not far from Didier (Drogba). It's not an internal fight. I'll be very happy if one of them scores 15 and the other 14. At the end of the season, he will be there amongst the people with a lot of goals.
"His performance was improving from match to match but always there was the feeling, unlucky, great save, unlucky, great save. In the first half, David James made an amazing save and you get the feeling that the goal is never coming."