Carlo Ancelotti gives Andriy Shevchenko hope of Chelsea future

Andriy Shevchenko was last night handed hope of a Chelsea future as Carlo Ancelotti said the Ukrainian is in better shape than when he pitched up in Milan last August.

Shevchenko’s return to the San Siro after two years of under-achievement at Stamford Bridge turned sour as he failed to break into Ancelotti’s side and spent most of the campaign on the margins.

The £30million flop has spent most of this summer being linked with moves to Italy, Turkey or back home to Dinamo Kiev but made a surprise appearance from the bench against Sunderland on Tuesday.

And with Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou facing a month at the African Nations Cup in January, Ancelotti signaled Sheva could, after all, have a role to play for the Blues.

Ancelotti, who comes face to face with one-time teacher Roy Hodgson tomorrow, said: “Shevchenko is in a better condition than last year.

“Of course we have a lot of strikers so it will not be easy for him to find a seat on the pitch.

“But he has trained very well, no problems. He’s happy to stay and work very hard. He has a good position in the squad because his team-mates appreciate him and like his work.”

Ancelotti added: “Shevchenko had a physical problem and now he has overcome that. He doesn’t have a mental problem. He is well now.

“For sure, if he stays well and in a good condition, I will have to choose and it will not be easy but I think he can put his quality to work for the team.”

Ancelotti revealed he spent a week studying Hodgson’s training ground methods when the Fulham chief was in charge of Switzerland in 1993 but his own policy of rotating his stars will continue.

The Chelsea boss changed four players and switched from his preferred diamond to a Christmas Tree for the win at Sunderland and told all his stars they will be subject to the policy.

Ancelotti said: “I want to use this system of rotating because I want to maintain players in good condition and motivation.

“I don’t want to arrive at the key moment of the season with 11 players tired and without motivation.

“That goes for everyone - Lampard, Terry, Essien and Drogba. There will be a moment for Drogba to rest. He’s not Superman. He’s very good and strong player but there will arrive a moment for him to rest too.”