Sheva to leave Chelsea

Sheva to leave Chelsea

Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko has decided to leave the club.

The Italian coach, speaking ahead of their Barclays Premier League clash with Burnley on Saturday, revealed Shevchenko had decided to move on because there was no guarantee of first-team football at Stamford Bridge.

Shevchenko spent last season on loan with Ancelotti at AC Milan but returned to Chelsea this summer. He made an appearance as a substitute against Sunderland in their 3-1 win at the Stadium of Light.

Ancelotti was hoping that the Ukrainian would play a part in Chelsea's season but the striker has decided it would be better to leave the club and find first-team football elsewhere.

He is now almost certain to leave for pastures new before the closure of the transfer window in a few day's time.

"I spoke with Shevchenko," said Ancelotti.

"He would like to play with continuity here for me but it is difficult for me to give him the possibility to play a lot of matches and he will take the right decision for him.

"He will take the decision. We have told him he can go. Sheva didn't have the possibility to play consistently, so he has taken the decision to go."

Ancelotti denied that Shevchenko had chosen to quit after being omitted from the Champions League squad.

"No, he did not, because I have the time to choose the squad for the Champions League," said Ancelotti.

"Here, Shevchenko did not have the opportunity to play with continuity. He made the decision because of this only."