Mourinho hails Shevchenko record
Jose Mourinho has faith in Andriy Shevchenko to supply the goal-power for Chelsea’s Champions League bid.
Shevchenko, a £30m (€44m) summer signing from AC Milan, will play his first European game for the Blues against Werder Bremen tomorrow.
The Ukrainian has an incredible record in the competition, scoring 43 goals in 79 games for Milan and Dynamo Kiev.
Mourinho said: “He is experienced in the Champions League and his scoring record is unbelievable and I have no doubt he will score goals for us. We have six matches in the group stage and I believe he will score more than one goal.
“Out of the six games, he will win us some of the points we need to qualify - but there is no pressure. We just want to qualify and finish first if possible. If not, second.”
Shevchenko, 29, has found the net twice in five games for Chelsea without looking at his razor-sharp best.
Mourinho said: “Something I didn’t know before I met him and something I admire a lot is that he is a team player first of all.
“He wants the team to win and the team to be happy. He is not worried about scoring goals or being man of the match. He is just a very sensible and a great human being and we love the boy.”
Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack are expected to continue in Mourinho’s midfield.
Lampard will also take penalties despite missing his third in four attempts against Charlton on Saturday.
Mourinho said: “I am very happy with Lampard and Ballack because I have had no time to help them and no time to work.
“I am not happy with what I’m giving them. They need me to give them something more but I don’t have the time to prepare them.
“My penalty taker is Lampard. Ballack is second and Sheva is third but between them they have the freedom to communicate on the pitch and choose who feels to most comfortable at that moment.”
