Shevchenko strike brings sweet relief
You keep believing he will come good, he is working hard, he looks sharp in training. The words sound more laboured and more like a broken record with every week that passes without a goal.
And it doesn’t help when the player is good friends with your boss. Anyone else who had not scored in nine games for a top four club would be dropped, right? Jose Mourinho has proved as ruthless as anyone when confronted with the problem in previous times. Think Adrian Mutu and Mateja Kezman.
Shevchenko’s first goal for Chelsea since giving his side the lead in the defeat at Middlesbrough on August 23 did so much more than alleviate the considerable pressure on himself.
It also saved Mourinho further embarrassment, and spared him the indignity of tabloid tittle-tattle about pressure from upstairs, like his predecessor, Claudio Ranieri. There is increasing disquiet in the Chelsea boardroom over the club’s failure to land the Champions League trophy, and their perceived lack of flair and panache when compared to domestic rivals Arsenal and Manchester United, and Barcelona when they meet in Europe.
The Sheva situation has made life difficult for Mourinho. He won’t drop him — but he must surely realise that a few more goals from his most expensive player would have put Chelsea ahead at the top of the league, as they were this time last year.
Instead, they are fighting it out with Manchester United, with Arsenal breathing down their necks. For Sheva, the goal was just a matter of time.
“Nothing happened with me, but it was a relief,” said Shevchenko. “I’m feeling well, having a good life, playing in every game and Chelsea are winning. What more could I ask for? I’ve got no intention of letting the critics destroy me. I get on well with my teammates, the manager is satisfied with me and I am happy with myself.
Pompey boss Harry Redknapp said: “He’s a world-class player and his record tells you that over the years.
“When you cost £30m you’re entitled to be decent really. He hasn’t scored many goals for them but he’s a top player, no doubt. His movement is top-class. He knows what he’s doing and now he’s off on a run he’ll probably end up with plenty of goals this season.”
Shevchenko pierced the deadlock with his left foot against Portsmouth and Michael Ballack put the home team 2-0 ahead within a couple of minutes, a simple header after good play from Didier Drogba.
But a 69th-minute goalmouth scramble ended when Pompey striker Benjani beat stand-in keeper Henrique Hilario to pull a goal back for Harry Redknapp’s team.
“Finally the goal is there for Sheva, so hopefully he will get confidence and now I can put him on the bench,” said a relieved Mourinho.
“It was nice for him to score a goal for us, a very important goal.
“He has two goals. He’s not far from 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.”
Mourinho was not surprised to see Arjen Robben terrorise Portsmouth after he left the Dutch winger on the bench against Barcelona in midweek.
“I was expecting him to play well because he played only 10 minutes against Barcelona and he was fresh. He had desire to play.”
The Dutchman was replaced in the 72nd minute with the Chelsea boss keen to offer Joe Cole some match action after his knee injury.
Mourinho said: “I felt sorry to take him out because he was playing very well but, at the same time, Joe needs that.
“To train is not enough. Joe needs some competition to go to his best level and I felt he could play the last 20 minutes and get some match pace.”
Cole could start against Blackburn in the Carling Cup on Wednesday. Carlo Cudicini is not expected to return at Blackburn but should be fit for the game at Bramall Lane.
Opta Fact: Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 49 Premiership home games — a league record.
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