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2003.02.World Soccer
It took just one goal for Andril Shevchenko to wipe away his demons and
the doubts building up among Milan fans that their Ukrainian striker had
lost his magic touch.
Pre-season injuries meant surgery and a late start to term for the former
Kyiv Dynamo striker. By then, Pippo Inzaghi and new signing Rivaldo had taken
over as Milan's strike partnership and fired the former European champions
back to the top of Serie A.
But the pressures of high intensity competition at both home and abroad had
bruised Inzaghi and Rivaldo so coach Carlo Ancelotti recalled Shevchenko to
his starting line-up for the Champions League second phase opener at home
to holders Real Madrid.
Shortly before half-time, playmaker Rui Costa floated a long pass over the
top of the Spanish side's defence and Shevchenko accelerated through to
strike the only goal of the game. The following Sunday he celebrated his
100th appearance in Serie A by scoring again to secure a 1-1 draw with
Empoli.
That was a remarkable turnaround considering Shevchenko had expected to be
sitting on the bench against Madrid.
He says: "Since I had come back from injury I had scored two goals but I
knew I hadn't been playing well. So when I not only started but scored
the goal it was a great sensation. I was just glad to be in the team.
My ambition for the game had been to play really well - even more than
getting on the scoresheet."
His team-mates reacted with almost as much delight as the scorer - partly
because they had opened the scoring against the champions of Europe and
partly because the were pleased for Shevchenko, personally.
"They knew how difficult it had been for me," he says. "You wouldn't believe
the number of phone calls and messages of congratulation I received from
players at other clubs. Inter's Christian Vieri was one of them.
He understands what I've been through. Ask any player. The entire reason
for your career is to be out on the pitch.
When you don't play some of the things you hear and read are incredible.
Really hurtful. I get really depressed. I wouldn't wish the way I feel on
any other player."
It has crossed his mind, even at that early stage in the season, to consider
asking for a transfer. To Shevchenko it is a matter of logic that "if there
is no place for you then it's right for you to go somewhere else. But I
want the best for Milan and I have always believed that the club felt the
same about me. So I thought I should wait and see what happened."
"Being out of the team came really hard to me because, all through my career,
with Kyiv, with Milan and with the Ukraine national team I had always
played as long as I was fit - and sometimes even when I wasn't fully fit.
What's happened this season has probably helped me grow up a bit.
"I understand why rotation or turnover makes sense. The coach wants to do
the best he can for the club so he picks the players he thinks are in the
best form. But when you are one of the players left out logic goes out the
window.
"The truth is, a big club need a lot of top players and they cannot all
play at the same time. Everyone has to wait his turn. You have to tell
yourself it's not your fault, it's the way the game is nowadays.
My head understands rotation; my heart wants to play every game."
Shevchenko always pays the greatest compliments for personal support to his
partner, Kristin. He has yet to come to terms with the media's interest in
footballers' lives off the pitch. He says: "it hasn't been easy for her. I
don't understand why a footballer's private life should be the subject for
so much gossip or criticism. We've been together for two years. A piece
of paper saying we are married wouldn't change anything so why should we
bother?"
Clearly, Shevchenko might have problems adjusting to footballing life in
the goldfish bowl which is the English Premiership. But when he has friends
in such high places why should he leave Italy?
Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's Prime Misister and owner of Milan, has taken a
flatteringly personal interest in Shevchenko's career, which the player
reciprocates. Shevchenko says: "Personally, I have a lot of time for
Berlusconi. He's been very supportive of myself and my family. He was the
one, when I was out of the team, who told me to be patient and concentrate
on what was good for the club.
"He was right, so when the team were winning I joined in the celebrations even
though I had been sitting on the bench or in the stand. Obviously, I wasn't
totally happy because I was not playing. But then the club, the coach and
the fans would think it odd if I were happy to be stuck on the bench."
Another admirer of Shevchenko is Leonid Kuchma, state President of Ukraine.
Kuchma's office phoned Shevchenko the morning after the Madrid match.
He had flown down to Rome to see Kristin and Kuchma happened to be in the
capital on an official visit to Italy.
Shevchenko was invited for lunch and was so unprepared he had to go straight
out and buy a suit for the occasion.
Not that Shevchenko is relying on that one goal to turn his season around.
He says: "The only thing one goal changes is one game. It doesn't make any
long-term difference. You celebrate at the time, then you come back down to
earth and start all over again.
"I will keep doing my job and trying to score as many goals as I can - or as
I am allowed to. I believe this Milan team are good enough to win Serie A for
the first time since I came here, and we can also win the Champions League.
I want to win the lot and I want to play a full part. Carlo Ancelotti knows
that. I've told hime so. He knows exactly where I stand.
"I have a lot of respect for Ancelotti. Being a coach in Serie A is a tough
life. After the Real Madrid game I exchanged shirts with Raul. But then I gave
the shirt to Ancelotti because he had also wanted it - and he's had his share
of pressure and criticism. I though he had earned it."
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