[Warchant]

Disgruntled striker Andriy Shevchenko insists he is baffled by Jose Mourinho's reluctance to play him in Chelsea's first team.

Mourinho has insisted the Ukrainian is not match fit following a niggling back injury, with Shevchenko having not figured in any match squads this season.

However, on the contrary to Mourinho's claim, Shevchenko believes there is no reasonable explanation for his continued non-involvement at Stamford Bridge.

"At Chelsea, I am not playing and I don't know why," he told The Sun. "I have not understood this but I am waiting for my chance."

Shevchenko's grievances do seem to have some credence, given he played 55 minutes of Ukraine's friendly win over Uzbekistan on August 22, and he is set to figure prominently for his country in the forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifying double header.

Shevchenko currently finds himself fourth choice in West London, with Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and new boy Claudio Pizarro all ahead of him in Mourinho's striking pecking order.

And his former Milan team-mate Zvonimir Boban, who played in a charity game with him in the Ukraine this week, believes he is unhappy at Stamford Bridge.

He said: "He looks unhappy because he made the choice to leave Milan and now at Chelsea he's not happy.

"Milan are a much bigger and creative club - and that's made a big difference to him."   

i know this is like beating a dead horse, but i have a feeling he'll be back before next season.

[kurtsimonw]

I'm not taking a shot at Sheva or anything, he's probably my favourite ever. But is it just coincidence that results have gone wrong for Chelsea since he returned to the side? His own performances have improved, but as a team.. I dunno.

This post has been edited by kurtsimonw: Sep 20 2007, 02:18 PM