I’m A Scapegoat, Blasts Sheva
(Goal.com) - Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko has lashed out at his critics, insisting he is being unfairly blamed for the Blues’ current problems.
The Ukraine star has failed to hit the heights since his £30 million move from Milan in the summer, with many suggesting the club’s poor form is down to him.
But he told The Times: "I am being made a scapegoat for things that have nothing to do with me."
He continued: "My contract runs for four years. I am here now and I am staying here. I am continuing to work to fit inside the team. I have been attacked from all sides but I intend to carry on. I will grit my teeth. I am not a quitter. I just want to be kept out of the politics."
There have been suggestions that Shevchenko’s close relationship with owner Roman Abramovich has undermined the authority of manager Jose Mourinho.
"There are things written about my relationship with Roman Abramovich which have been over-exaggerated," he added.
"My relationship with him is the same as every other player. He's the president and I am a player - it is entirely professional.
"I see Abramovich in the dressing-room sometimes or occasionally at training. We might have a quick word with each other but that is natural as we both speak Russian. Maybe I shouldn't speak Russian. Maybe that gives people the wrong idea.
"A lot of things have been said which aren't true. They have caused a lot of hurt to myself and my family. I am a footballer, not a politician. My job is to play, that's all. It is what I've been doing since I was nine years old. People are crossing the limits in what they are saying about me. It is bull***t."
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Comments
Your not a scapegoat Sheva! Your a screw up! You choked! Your overated! You need to pack your bags & go back to Italy where it was easier on you! You big crying 30 million dollar baby! Quit yelping like a dog thats just been kicked! All the heat comes with the big money dummy! Learn to deal with it & quit acting like a spoiled little child you vodka drinking dummy!
Posted by: Morty Black | January 19, 2007 08:40 PM
30 million? Really? That's what this guy is making? What is he complaining about? What a big baby! Sheva? Ok whatever, quit crying & shut up! Drink some more vodka as you guys from Eastern Europe seem to really do a lot of that anyways & laugh all the way to the bank boy!
Posted by: Reggie Bannister | January 19, 2007 09:01 PM
Your not a scapegoat Sheva >>> Your an idiot! Shut up & count your money!
Posted by: The Tall Man Phantasm | January 20, 2007 08:32 PM
Too much money now, but give him two years and that will be a bargain for Chelsea. He's a great player who just transferred to a league that is radically different than his old one. Look at Drogba. Mediocre his first couple years, and now he's exploded into one of the EPL's best strikers. Did you see that goal against Liverpool? Anyway, he just needs to adjust. And I don't think it's fair that people are blaming him, Chelsea is doing fine on offense. Their defense is the one who has some explaining to do. I don't care that Terry's out, Chelsea's bench warmers are still some of the finest athletes in the world. They have showed numerous times that their defense can crumble at any time. So don't call Sheva and idiot-call Ashley Cole an idiot cause he really is one.
Posted by: Adam | January 20, 2007 10:17 PM
Give the guy a break. Theres eleven players on a soccer team. It is unfair that they blame the clubs mediocre performance on him. Maybe its
Mourinho who is making the wrong decisions tactically. I do have to admit though, that even though he is being unfairly blamed he should grin and bear it. Shut your mouth, work through your slump and get back the adoration of the fans. Otherwise, you come across as a hugely overpaid baby. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. I'm kind of glad he is failing. I was upset about him leaving Milan after they made him the superstar he was before he went to England to plat the "kick the ball and chase game"
Posted by: giova * * * * | January 21, 2007 01:44 AM
By the way has anybody noticed that most of the big teams aren't doing so well this year? Kind of a coincidence that it is like this right after the calciopolli scandal. All leagues in Europe were rumoured to have been fixing matches. The English Premiership was going to be investigated, along with the Spanish Primera. Now all of a sudden the Milans, Chelseas, Real Madrids and Barcelonas aren't a sure bet anymore. Is my thinking a little far fetched or does some of this ring true? Tell me what you think.
Posted by: giova * * * * | January 21, 2007 01:49 AM
Giova ....
Your thinking is not far fetched. What is happening with the sport all over the world now is all about Big Money! Very few players' nowadays are loyal to their clubs & national teams & in turn very few national team federations, managers, & managers for professional clubs are loyal to their players in return. Just like the situation with (You know who!) coming to Los Angeles. I don't feel the least bit sorry for him as I don't feel the least bit sorry for his past tense handlers back in Madrid. All these big named clubs you'v mentioned are full of big named players & in most cases more often than not these players are more concerned about contracts & making money than actually playing top flight football. Just as the club owners want huge huge profits & put unrealistic pressure on their managers to deliver the goods so to say! Look at the present situation in Italy. Great league, with great teams & players & a rich history. The team owners really messed things up for everybody & now they lost a lot of good players & Italian football suffers for it. It's not just in Italy either all the leagues do it it's just some crooks are more clever at covering their tracks. Professional football is big, big, very big business with crazy amounts of money being poured into it with expectations that more will come from it in return. Back in my day which was not too long ago to play as a professional was the result of a life long dream. I didn't care how much I was going to make or what percentage I was going to get on this or that or image rights as most of that was not an issue at the time. I was more than happy & jumping for joy to live the dream of playing as a professional & playing with or against top flight players. After all these years I still enjoy kicking a ball around even on my own. I guess what I'm trying to say is I've never lost the passion & love for the game I had when I first started as a child It still burns very bright inside me! In this age we live in with our sport. The king of sports. A lot of other people have lost that pure focus. Like I said it's all about the money now for most players & management.
Posted by: DynastySoccerFC ... Rasputin | January 21, 2007 03:37 AM
A big salary makes you an immediate target, because people expect instant results. Chelsea has many problems,Sheva is a small part of the problem, look at the whole team, not just Sheva.
Posted by: Tesoro | January 21, 2007 10:18 PM
sheva is a great player! but the english game is alot different from the italian game. the fans are harder to please and the press jus want to write crap! keep fightin sheva cos hes a bloody great talent
Posted by: Anonymous | January 27, 2007 10:37 PM
Sheva is a brillaint talent.....but too long in the tooth. I think he should return to a league that is not so fast paced and firm in the tackle.
Posted by: rouge7 | January 29, 2007 11:53 AM
To say that is to say this comrad should return to a weaker league where he will stand out because he's lost in the maze where he's at right now. Face it rouge7. Sheva is not good enough to play in England.
Posted by: John Walton | January 30, 2007 03:48 AM