Chelsea Football Club

• Nickname:Blues
• Founded:1905
• Manager:Rafael Benitez

• Ground:Stamford Bridge
• Capacity:42440

Sheva denies Jose rift talk

09 Mar 2007 - 11:50:22

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Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko insists he has never given an interview to a German website that has quoted the Ukraine international criticising Blues boss Jose Mourinho.

German website sport.ARD.de reported Shevchenko saying he was caught in the middle of Mourinho's rift with owner Roman Abramovich.

But the forward, signed by Chelsea from AC Milan last summer for £30million, said: "This is complete rubbish.

"I have never spoken to this German website or to the journalist who claims to have interviewed me."

Shevchenko had been quoted as saying: "It's true I have complained about Mourinho, but there are a lot of things which drove me to that.

"A few months ago I suddenly became his dartboard because he was having a spat with the president at the time.

"I'm an employee of the club so I do what the president says. The manager never spoke to me or played me in the position where my strengths lie.

"It's also no secret that I was more on Mr Abramovich's wish list than the manager's.

"Mourinho is a very good manager, but I don't fit into his system. In any event I know it can't carry on like that.

"Our relationship is professional. Nothing more nothing less. He is a tactical fox and has strict beliefs, but I've had better managers."