Mourinho Drops Shevchenko

Ahead of what is there biggest game of the season so far, Jose Mourinho the Chelsea manager have made a decision which could ultimately prove fatal, not only for the Champions League semi-fnal against Liverpool but for his Chelsea future.

Mourinho has dropped Andrei Shevchenko from this evening’s game at Anfield, he is not even on the bench and I believe has not even travelled with his team mates. How unsettling will all this be? It seems very curcious to me, and not just the timing of the decision. There are now rumours that Mourinho and Shevchenko have fallen out over the decision.

Shevchenko’s reaction however, may be the least of Jose’s problems. The decision will not be taken likely by the club’s owner, Roman Abramovich. The two men have hardly had a good relationship recently. Abramovich’s perceived treatment of Shevchenko by Mourinho has been a major sticking point between the two men and this decision to drop him cause very easily cause yet another serious rift between them.

On the other side of the coin though, it is understood that Jose has the backing of his players over the dropping of Shevchenko. At the beginning of the season the Ukranian was probably considered the best striker currently playing in world football, and quite rightly too. However, in less than one season, his form has dipped considerably to the point where this exceptional player cannot even get a game for his club side. It is thought that among the others players there is a feeling of serious disillusionment over Shevchenko to the point where even they are not bothered whether he plays in the team or not. I feel it would be a huge understatement to state he has obviously not settled as well as was hoped by all attached to Chelsea.

It has not yet been confirmed as to whether the Chelsea owner will be at Anfield tonight, which is almost inconceivable considering this is the second leg of a Champions League semi-final. By the end of tonight, his team will either be in the Final or out. You’d think he would want to be there to witness the drama unfold, wouldn’t you?

Shevchenko is however, not the only player the Mourinho is unhappy with at the moment. He is also very upset with the German captain, Michael Ballack who has taken the decision personally to have an operation now on an ankle injury and not wait until the end of the season as his manager and club wanted.

Interesting times behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge at the moment. Will they have any bearing on tonight’s result and the outcome of the rest of the season for Chelsea? We will know a lot more come the end of tonight!

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Many thanks
Rik