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EPL: VS Fulham [HOME] (Sat Sep 29, 2007)

4.3K views 178 replies 23 participants last post by  Railroad  
#1 ·
There is an article about Shevchenko at Chelseafc.com, and instead of just posting that as a thread in itself, I decided to do a combo and start the EPL matchday thread as well.

THE THURSDAY INTERVIEW: ANDRIY SHEVCHENKO

It has been a tough few months for Andriy Shevchenko, but, bfit again, he reveals he is just getting back into his stride, and is hoping for a birthday goal against Fulham on Saturday.

September 29 marks the Ukrainian's 31st birthday, and his wish is to add to the goal he scored against Rosenborg in our Champions League opener.

Rested for last night's win at Hull, the player affectionately known as Sheva has appeared three times in Chelsea colours this term, and freely admits that first of the season against the Norwegians was an important goal for his confidence. 'Yes, and every game is important for me for Chelsea,' he added. 'I want to do my best every game.'

Shevchenko, who signed for a club record fee in the summer of 2006, is yet to show the Premier League his full goal scoring repertoire, but hopes that Saturday is the day he begins to show what he is capable of.

With three games without a win in the league, a result at Fulham is a must, and Shevchenko believes the team is in the right frame of mind despite the difficulties we have faced over the last few games.

'I think it's ok, it's a difficult moment for the club, the players, the team, because of big changes in the house, so it's a moment for the players to stick together and do our best for the club,' he explained.

He points to the performance in the early stages against Manchester United as proof of the team's potential, where until John Mikel Obi's red card, we had matched the champions on their own patch.

'It was a tough game, and after 30 minutes playing with 10, the team played well, were good in defence and tried our best on the pitch,' he said, before conceding: 'We played against Manchester United with 10 and that's very difficult. To score a goal there also is very difficult.'

These were encouraging signs for new first team coach Avram Grant, who, despite persistent rumours, Sheva insists he knows no better than any of the other players.

'I know him as director of football with the team, like every player. He tries now as a manager and every player has the same relationship,' said the forward, who has scored 34 times in 76 appearances for his country.

Shevchenko appears to be hitting form at the right time, with the crucial Champions League visit to Valencia just around the corner.

Having scored the winning penalty in that competition in 2003, and then seeing the flipside of a shootout two years later, the forward knows all about Europe's elite club competition, and has fond memories of his last visit to Valencia.

'It was a very difficult game and they are a good team,' he pondered. 'Last year was a good result in Valencia, 2-1. We'll try the same this time,' he added, clearly with the prospect of more European glory on his mind.

He dismisses the idea however that scoring in the Mestalla was his best Chelsea memory, saying: 'No, every game when you score for the team and the team wins is a good moment for a player.'

With 60 goals in European competition (47 in Champions League), Shevchenko, sits alongside former Milan team mate Filippo Inzaghi, just two goals behind Gerd Muller's record, but he insists as nice as they are, it's not personal records that matter, instead focusing on the greater good.

'It's a good, magnificent competition, with magnificent players. It's very nice, and very prestigious,' Sheva said.

'But I don't think about how many goals I've scored, it's important now every time for the club. It's important for the team to win, if I score it's okay, but if the team wins then very good.'

For now, Shevchenko, European Footballer of the Year in 2004, is just happy to be playing football again, following hernia and back problems. These he says, also kept him from his second passion, playing golf.

'I don't play so much, because we have a lot of games and I had my back problem, and I don't play for a long time, maybe a couple of times but I don't have so much time to play,' he confessed. 'It's difficult because it's so busy, life on the pitch. You need the pitch, competition and to play with the team.'

He'll hope to be even busier in the coming weeks as he contemplates success on three fronts, starting with a birthday goal on Saturday.


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So this is why he was rested in the Hull City game, because hopefully he will play a Full game on Saturday for his Birthday!

-Bridge is back and fit to play
-Ballack is 2 weeks away from training
-Drogba & Carvalho will be training, so they will return soon
-No news on Lampard
-SWP is fine after his injury

My prediction :

Chelsea 5-0 Fulham

Sheva, Sheva, Pizarro, Joe Cole, Malouda
 
#11 ·
Avram Grant has expressed his pleasure that Didier Drogba could return to the squad tomorrow, and insists the squad is fully focused on gaining a first league win in four games.

Drogba has been on the sidelines since damaging his knee in the defeat at Aston Villa on September 2, but returned to training with the rest of the squad this week, and the manager is hopeful he will be involved.

'We will check the players this afternoon and tomorrow to make sure everything is okay but probably Didier will be back tomorrow,' Grant said.
'Frank Lampard not yet but almost. Ricardo Carvalho needs a few more days and he will be okay,' he added on the other long-term injured.

'They do everything that they can to be back quickly and they are already coming back quicker than we thought.

'As a manager or a coach I want all the players available for the game, I'm very happy Didier is back.'

This means that Grant has four forwards at his disposal, but has given nothing away with regard to the combination he will pick to face the Cottagers.
 
#16 ·
Chelsea could line up in a variety of formations, with the three attacking options of Kalou, Shevchenko and Drogba hinting at a 4-3-3, but Kalou could easily drop in to play as a left winger in a 4-4-2.

1 Petr Cech
35 Juliano Belletti
22 Tal Ben-Haim
26 John Terry (c)
3 Ashley Cole
10 Joe Cole
9 Steve Sidwell
4 Claude Makelele
21 Salomon Kalou
11 Didier Drogba
7 Andriy Shevchenko

Chelsea's subs are 23 Carlo Cudicini, 20 Paulo Ferreira, 33 Alex, 15 Florent Malouda, 14 Claudio Pizarro.

OMFG Disregard Kaloupz who will drift away in the sides hopefully, it's Sheva + Drogba!!!?!??!