The Guardian, Saturday August 2 2008

Moscow miss adds to Shevchenko's woes at Chelsea·
Unsettled Ukrainian is fall guy in shoot-out reprise
Striker remains outside Scolari's first-team plans
Dominic Fifield in Moscow


Chelsea were left numbed by a feeling of déjà vu last night after
succumbing on penalties in a cup competition staged in the Russian
capital for the second time in just over two months. Where Champions
League heartache had been reserved for John Terry and Nicolas Anelka,
this time it was Andriy Shevchenko who effectively ended as the fall
guy.

The Ukrainian has struggled since moving to London in a £30m deal two
years ago from Milan and his former manager there, Carlo Ancelotti,
suggested yesterday, before the match, that his inability to make an
impact has been born less of a lack of fitness than "psychological"
problems as he struggles to adapt to life in a new country. His miss
here in the Railways Cup, Ivan Pelizzoli pushing away Chelsea's sixth
penalty with his feet, may have come in a friendly tournament but it
will have done little to improve his state of mind.

Shevchenko underwent surgery on a groin complaint over the summer
which prevented him from beginning pre-season training at the same
time as his team-mates. He had played a bit-part role on the club's
tour of Asia and was granted only the final 15 minutes by Luiz Felipe
Scolari last night. His cameo ended in the poorly placed shot after
Wayne Bridge had earlier passed up the chance to claim victory in the
shoot-out.

Scolari was at pains to stress that he had pre-selected the penalty
takers that might be used in a shoot-out before last night's game.
"Before the game I said to the players that, if we have penalties
after the game, I'd choose the players to take them," he said. "I told
them it was my choice and, if we didn't win, it'd be my mistake, not
theirs. We do need to change the situation, because we will have
penalty shoot-outs again, but one penalty will not change my idea of
Shevchenko."

This was the third consecutive shoot-out that Chelsea have lost. While
Scolari is adamant he can improve that record, he appears already to
have decided that Shevchenko will start the season as a squad player.
The Chelsea manager had always intended to use this four-team
tournament as an occasion to fine-tune his first-choice line-up, with
the striker's lack of fitness having effectively already returned him
to the fringes with little prospect of beginning the opening Premier
League game against Portsmouth this month.

Ancelotti, who worked with the striker in his pomp at San Siro,
insisted that Shevchenko could still make his mark at Stamford Bridge
despite having scored only nine league goals in two seasons at the
club, though only if he comes to terms with life in a new country.

"I'd say the reason he has not had the same impact as he did in Italy
is that, when he moved to Chelsea from Milan, that is a hard thing to
do," said Ancelotti. "He had to move to another country and the
environment changed.

"All these factors obviously affected his condition. He's trying to
play the way he can. I believe he has great talent, and we have seen
that many times. If he overcomes these problems, which are mostly
psychological and, I think, because he moved to a different country,
then he will achieve a lot in the Chelsea team. I believe he can still
achieve that."

Chelsea led here through Michael Essien's wonderfully lashed
first-half goal but shipped an equaliser through Ruslan Kambolov six
minutes from time after missing a plethora of chances to extend their
lead. They will now play Milan in the third-place play-off tomorrow,
with the hosts progressing to take on Sevilla, 1-0 victors over the
Rossoneri, in the final
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Mail:

Blue bottler Sheva: Chelsea on the spot again in Moscow as penalty pain lingers
By Simon Cass

The man who can lay claim to knowing Andriy Shevchenko best insisted
the most serious reason for the striker's poor form at Chelsea is in
the mind.
So it was fitting that the Ukraine striker's loss of nerve cost the
club again in Moscow last night with the new season beginning as the
previous one ended for them.

A Railways Cup game against Lokomotiv Moscow bears no resemblance, of
course, to the Champions League Final. All that was at stake last
night was the chance to meet Sevilla in tomorrow's final of a
pre-season tournament.

But Chelsea's chance to exorcise the memory of that heartbreaking
defeat on May 21 was ended by a 5-4 shoot- out defeat which followed a
1-1 draw.

Just 10 weeks ago, John Terry and then Nicolas Anelka missed spot
kicks to hand Manchester United the European Cup. Last night Wayne
Bridge missed to take the shoot-out into sudden death in which
Shevchenko saw his effort saved by Lokomotiv keeper Ivan Pelizzoli.

AC Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti had claimed before watching his side
lose 1-0 to Sevilla in the opening game that Shevchenko's failure to
live up to expectations following his £30million move to Stamford
Bridge two years ago was all psychological.
Ancelotti said: 'The reason is that when he moved to Chelsea from
Milan that is a hard thing to do. He had to move to another country
and the environment changed.

'All these factors obviously affected his condition. He's trying to
play the way he can. I believe we have seen many times that he has
great talent. If he overcomes these problems, which are mostly
psychological and because he moved to a different country, then he
will achieve a lot at Chelsea.'

Ancelotti also ruled out a return to the San Siro for Shevchenko while
a Chelsea spokesman confirmed a groin operation during the summer is
the reason why he is behind his team-mates in terms of preparation for
the season ahead.

At least Shevchenko's self esteem was boosted by his manager, Luiz
Felipe Scolari, and the locals, who cheered his introduction with 15
minutes remaining. Scolari said: 'One penalty will not change my idea
of Shevchenko. It was not his mistake, it was mine.

'I said to them before the game that if it went to penalties I'd
choose the players to take them. I told them if we didn't win it would
be my mistake, not theirs.'

However, despite that, Scolari all but confirmed that the majority of
those not on the field from the start last night are likely to be
warming the bench next season.

He said: 'I came here to this tournament to look at my team for the
game against Portsmouth and I need to prepare my team for that game. I
had 75 per cent of my team (during Chelsea's Asia Tour). Now, maybe, I
have 85 per cent because I saw one more game (in Kuala Lumpur).

'But I (will) have a more complete idea after this tournament because
we played three games in China and Malaysia but they weren't strong
games.'

Part of the missing 15 per cent will be Didier Drogba, who has stayed
in England this summer for treatment on a knee injury picked up at the
back end of last season, and Michael Ballack, who has not played on
Chelsea's tour after being handed an extended break following his Euro
2008 exploits for Germany and his wedding.

It is the inclusion of Ballack into midfield alongside Frank Lampard,
Deco, Michael Essien, Joe Cole and John Mikel Obi that will present
the Brazilian coach with more of a quandary than whether or not to
leave Anelka out for Drogba.

That quintet started against Lokomotiv last night, and it fell to
Essien, playing in an unfamiliar advanced role, to give Chelsea a
27th-minute lead after Deco's cross was chested into his path by
Anelka, allowing the Ghana midfielder to unleash a sweet strike from
the edge of the penalty area.

Chelsea went close to doubling their advantage in the 67th minute
after Anelka exchanged passes with Lampard but the French striker's
close-range shot was well saved by Pelizzoli.

Chelsea were made to pay when Lokomotiv substitute Ruslan Kambolov
unleashed a 30-yard free-kick after 84 minutes which cannoned into the
net off the post to set up the shoot-out.

Bridge's miss from the spot meant it was all eyes on Shevchenko. But,
true to form, Chelsea's record signing was not up to the task, opting
to go down the middle and allowing Pelizzoli to save with his feet.

At least Chelsea might get another chance to practise penalties in
Moscow when they take on Milan in tomorrow's game to decide the wooden
spoon.
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Telegraph:

Andrei Shevchenko misses from the spot as Chelsea re-live shoot-out agony
Chelsea suffered fresh penalty disappointment in Moscow, with Andrei
Shevchenko missing a decisive spot-kick just hours after Carlo
Ancelotti, one of his closest footballing mentors, had pointed to
problems in the Ukrainian's mind as a central explanation for his drop
in form.

By Jeremy Wilson in Moscow

In a finale that contained remarkable similarities with the agonising
Champions League defeat against Manchester United, Chelsea were beaten
5-4 in another penalty shoot-out after drawing 1-1 with Lokomotiv
Moscow in the semi-finals of the Russian Railways Cup.

John Terry, who missed in such heartbreaking fashion 10 weeks ago in
the European Cup final, was on the pitch but not among the
penalty-takers as Wayne Bridge missed a chance to win the match before
Shevchenko's effort was saved.

Manager Luiz Felipe Scolari said he blamed himself. "One penalty does
not change my idea of Shevchenko," he said.

"It was not his mistake, it was mine. I said to them before the game
that if it went to penalties, I would choose the players to take them.
I told them it was my choice and, if we didn't win, it would be my
mistake.

"I have got other players who can take penalties, Ballack and Drogba,
it is something we need to improve on. If they win a penalty
competition, they will have more confidence."

Chelsea will now face Milan, Shevchenko's former club, in their final
pre-season game tomorrow before Scolari's first competitive match as
Chelsea manager against Portsmouth on Aug 17.

Shevchenko, 31, spent five hugely successful seasons playing under
Ancelotti at Milan, but his form has nose-dived since joining Chelsea.
"He had to move to another country and the environment changed," said
Ancelotti.

"He's trying to play the way he can. I believe we have seen many times
he has great talent. If he overcomes these problems, which are mostly
psychological and, I think, because he moved to a different country,
then he will achieve a lot in the Chelsea team."

Shevchenko has played 41 minutes in four matches during Chelsea's
pre-season after summer surgery on his groin. "I came here to look at
my team for the game against Portsmouth," said Scolari. "I have 75 per
cent of my team. Now, maybe, I have 85 per cent."

Among the variables for the Portsmouth match will be the fitness of
Didier Drogba, who is recovering from a knee injury, and the outcome
of the attempt to buy Real Madrid's Robinho. Madrid are still hoping
to persuade Manchester United to sell Cristiano Ronaldo, with Chelsea
chief executive Peter Kenyon admitting that the deal could hinge on
the Spanish club's success in finding a replacement.

Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti, meanwhile, has confirmed Frank
Lampard will stay at Chelsea. "He wanted to leave, I am certain,
although it created a lot of anxiety for him and in fact he remained
because of family matters," he said. "He stayed for his father, who he
is extremely close to, and for his whole environment."

Lampard's mother, Pat, died earlier this year.
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The Times August 2, 2008

Andriy Shevchenko shoved into Chelsea shadows

Matt Hughes, Moscow

Andriy Shevchenko's traumatic two-year stay at Chelsea reached its
nadir last night when he missed a penalty that condemned his side to
another defeat in the Russian capital after hearing his manager, Luiz
Felipe Scolari, indicate that he has little future at the club. A 5-4
penalty shootout defeat by Lokomotiv Moscow does not carry the
significance of their epic loss to Manchester United in the Champions
League final ten weeks ago, but that is unlikely to improve
Shevchenko's mood.

The Ukraine striker had already endured a miserable day, with Carlo
Ancelotti ruling out his return to AC Milan and claiming that the
player has psychological problems, before his humiliation at the
penalty spot. Wayne Bridge had missed a spot-kick that would have
given Chelsea victory after the 1-1 draw, but the full back's error
will not be remembered for as long as Shevchenko's weak effort that
went straight at Ivan Pelizzoli, the Lokomotiv goalkeeper.

Scolari took responsibility for the defeat, but his view of Shevchenko
does not appear to be encouraging. "One penalty will not change my
view of Shevchenko or any player," he said. "I gave him confidence
because I let him take a penalty. If it's right or wrong, it's my
choice."

Scolari had revealed earlier in the day that Shevchenko is not even
under consideration for Chelsea's opening Barclays Premier League
match against Portsmouth in two weeks. The 31-year-old has endured a
torrid time since completing a club-record £30 million move to Chelsea
two years ago, scoring only 22 goals in all competitions, and, after
making little impact under José Mourinho and Avram Grant, has been
frozen out by Scolari. The Brazilian went so far as to bracket
Shevchenko along with Franco Di Santo, the 19-year-old Argentine
striker, as players on the fringe of his squad, with his plight not
helped by a groin injury that has meant that he has spent much of
pre-season playing catch-up with his team-mates.
"If it's possible you may see Shevchenko, but I came here to this
tournament to look at my team for the game against Portsmouth and I
need to prepare my team for that game," Scolari said. "I'm not
thinking about this tournament as an opportunity to put Shevchenko
into the game. If I need to put Shevchenko or Di Santo in the game, I
will, but my idea is about Portsmouth.

"I had 75 per cent of my team in mind last week and now it's maybe 85
per cent because I've seen one more game. After these matches I'll
have an idea for my players and for the games in England." It says
much about Shevchenko's fall that, even with Didier Drogba likely to
miss the start of the season as he continues rehabilitation on a knee
injury, he cannot force his way into the reckoning. With Milan
unwilling to offer him salvation at the San Siro his only options
appear to be sitting it out at Stamford Bridge or taking a huge pay
cut to move to Major League Soccer.

"We're thankful to Shevchenko for everything he has done for Milan,
but it's in the past," Ancelotti said. "I'd say the reason he has
struggled is that when he moved to Chelsea it was hard to do, the
environment changed.

"If he overcomes these problems, which are mostly psychological and
because he moved to a different country, he will achieve a lot at
Chelsea."

The London club are monitoring Robinho's contract talks with Real
Madrid, although Peter Kenyon, the chief executive, is adamant that
they will not offer Drogba as part of a package to secure the Brazil
winger.

"One of the key issues is them [Real] looking for a replacement.
That's what has been holding up discussions," Kenyon said. "It has not
progressed over the last few days, but the window is open until the
end of August.

"There's absolutely no question that any deal would be done regarding
Didier. He is in rehab and is, and will continue to be, a Chelsea
player."
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Sun:

L Moscow 1 Chelsea 1
From MARK IRWIN


Lokomotiv Moscow 1 Chelsea 1
(Lokomotiv win 5-4 on pens)

CHELSEA returned to Moscow — and blew a penalty shootout again.


Just 10 weeks after losing the Champions League final to rivals
Manchester United, their nerve deserted them once more.


But at least there were no tears this time as skipper John Terry was
spared spot-kick duty in the Blues' first defeat under new boss Phil
Scolari.


Instead, Andriy Shevchenko missed the decisive kick — hours after
being told by his former boss that all his Chelsea problems are in his
head.


AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti says the £30million striker has not
come to terms with leaving the San Siro two years ago.


He said: "Sheva has not achieved great things at Chelsea as it was so
hard for him to move from Milan.


"We have seen many times in the past that he is a great talent.


"But he must overcome these problems, which are mostly psychological,
to achieve at Chelsea."


Last night's events will not exactly help the Ukrainian's cause in his
battle to win over Scolari.


Just as in the European final, Chelsea took an early shootout lead
when Petr Cech saved from Dinar Bilyaletdinov.


But Wayne Bridge failed to convert at 4-4 and as the shootout went to
sudden-death, Sheva's penalty struck the outstretched leg of Lokomotiv
keeper Ivan Pelizolli and flew wide.


But Scolari refused to blame the struggling superstar.


The Brazilian said: "One penalty has not changed my view of Shevchenko.


"It was not his mistake, it was mine. I said I would choose the penalty takers.


"We need to improve shootouts but I'm not too worried."


To make matters worse for Sheva, 31, his miss was watched by Roman
Abramovich, who was in Moscow to see his first match since Scolari
took charge.


Now even the owner must be giving up hope on his favourite Ukrainian
who has failed to justify his £130,000-a-week wages, having netted
just nine league goals in two seasons.



Scolari made it clear before the match that he would be fielding his
strongest possible team last night.


Didier Drogba was in London nursing a knee injury and Salomon Kalou
away at the Olympics, but Sheva was still on the bench with Shaun
Wright-Phillips and Florent Malouda.


Shevchenko came on as a 75th-minute sub for Nicolas Anelka when
Chelsea appeared to be cruising to their fourth-straight win of this
pre-season tour of the Far East and Russia.


Michael Essien fired them into a 27th-minute lead but Anelka and
Wright-Phillips missed great chances before an 84th-minute leveller.


Cech's wall was badly positioned and the keeper was slow to react as
Ruslan Kambolov's 30-yard free-kick flew in off the far post.


Last night's defeat means that Shevchenko now faces former club Milan
tomorrow after the Italians were beaten 1-0 by Seville in the other
match.


CHELSEA: Cech, Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole (Bridge), Mikel
(Wright-Phillips), Essien, Deco, Lampard, J Cole (Malouda), Anelka
(Shevchenko).