Wednesday Jan 24 2007 08:22
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has challenged Andriy Shevchenko to continue the form he showed in the Carling Cup semi-final victory over Wycombe Wanderers if he wants to keep his place in the starting line-up.
The £30million Ukraine striker ended his barren spell in front of goal with a brace as the Blues coasted to a 4-0 second leg victory over the League Two side.
Shevchenko was given a standing ovation when he was replaced six minutes from time by Salomon Kalou, but the mis-firing striker also received a handshake from Mourinho - something that was conspicuous by its absence in last weekend's defeat at Liverpool.
The former AC Milan striker has now netted six times since his summer transfer and Mourinho believes the club's record signing is finally beginning to find his feet in English football.
"He needed time to adapt," said Mourinho.
"If he can repeat what he did - in terms of his movement, his contribution for the team, his effort to create spaces, his work when we didn't have the ball and pressing opponents - he is arriving at where we want him to arrive."
Speaking about the Liverpool snub, the Blues boss added: "To show when you are happy and when you are unhappy, sometimes you kiss, sometimes you kick. In this case I didn't kick, I ignored.
"It's simple. What I do with him is the same with every player, whether he is £30million or £300,000, it doesn't matter."
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