Jose Mourinho faces a selection dilemma on Saturday after it emerged yesterday that Andriy Shevchenko is expected to be fit to play against Liverpool.
It is widely believed that the £30m Ukrainian was signed at the behest of the club’s owner, Roman Abramovich, and that Mourinho has been under pressure to play him despite misgivings about the striker’s ability to handle the pace of the Premiership now that he has turned 30. If a fit Shevchenko is left out of Saturday’s squad it will be portrayed as an act of defiance by the manager, which could set him off a renewed collision course with the club’s hierarchy.
Like all the Chelsea first-team squad Shevchenko was given two days off after last Saturday’s 4-0 Premiership win over Wigan. The striker, who has been suffering from a light hamstring injury, returned to the Cobham training centre yesterday to undergo treatment and will be able to train before the match at Anfield.
That means Mourinho’s selection for the fixture is likely to be fraught with political ramifications. The Portuguese has made his dissatisfaction with the player’s work-rate clear .
Without a domestic goal since November, Shevchenko acknowledges that he has not been playing well but he is hurt by his manager’s barbs. A dressing-room insider yesterday denied any friction between Shevchenko and his team-mates as reported by one paper.
His agent, Fabio Parisi, who is in close contact with him, said of accusations about the player’s friendship with Abramovich: “There is nothing he can do about that.” Chelsea insist that team selection is a matter for Mourinho and that Shevchenko’s fate has no bearing on the recent peace pact with the club’s hierarchy. But it is understood the Russian faction feels Shevchenko has been misused, and that will put stern focus on Mourinho’s selection on Saturday. The manager could compromise by putting him on the bench.
The striker has not featured since playing for 90 minutes without scoring in the 6-1 FA Cup win over Macclesfield. Arjen Robben, who hit the second goal against Wigan, would be difficult to displace and Didier Drogba’s place is guaranteed after his seven goals in eight games.
West Ham have not abandoned hope of completing the £9.65m purchase of Ashley Young despite the Watford player’s reluctance to join their relegation battle. The midfielder has rejected a £50,000-a-week offer, favouring a move to Tottenham. But at present Spurs are unlikely to take him after they made what they considered a fair bid that falls considerably short of West Ham’s package. West Ham think favourable results may yet persuade Young to join them before Spurs make a fresh approach later this month. Aston Villa are considering their options.
Mark Viduka, Middlesbrough’s striker, remains a West Ham target and they also believe Tottenham’s Mido would be available if they made an offer.
