Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has declared that Andriy Shevchenko still has a role in the final season of his contract at Stamford Bridge.
The Ukrainian striker spent last season on loan under Ancelotti at AC Milan but the Italian coach sees a role for him in England this term.
Shevchenko replaced Deco in the second half of their 3-1 victory over Sunderland on Tuesday night - his first appearance in a Chelsea shirt since May 2008.
"At present he is a Chelsea player and in the future he will be the same," Ancelotti told journalists.
"Now he is better condition but we have a lot of strikers at the moment and for him it is not easy to find a place on the pitch.
"He trains very well with no problem and he is very happy to stay. He has a good position in the squad because his team-mates like his work.
"There is a good atmosphere in the team and he knows it is not easy to play for Chelsea because the competition is high in the squad.
"Shevchenko had a physical problem last year but now he has overcome that and we can use his quality for the team this year.
"He has no problem staying here. He wants to play but all the players want to play. When they don't play it is difficult to maintain a good feeling, a good atmosphere and motivation. But now he has a good motivation.
"He does not have a mental problem. He is well. But I have to choose who plays and it is not easy."
The frontman will be 33 at the end of this month but Ancelotti insists that age is not a criteria for him to pick good players.
Last season he kept faith with 40-year-old Paolo Maldini along with 35-year-olds Dida and Filippo Inzaghi among others.
"I used, in the last year, 38-, 39- and 40-year-olds because these players have experience and a good mental attitude," he continued.
"We won a lot with players with experience."
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The Ukrainian striker spent last season on loan under Ancelotti at AC Milan but the Italian coach sees a role for him in England this term.
Shevchenko replaced Deco in the second half of their 3-1 victory over Sunderland on Tuesday night - his first appearance in a Chelsea shirt since May 2008.
"At present he is a Chelsea player and in the future he will be the same," Ancelotti told journalists.
"Now he is better condition but we have a lot of strikers at the moment and for him it is not easy to find a place on the pitch.
"He trains very well with no problem and he is very happy to stay. He has a good position in the squad because his team-mates like his work.
"There is a good atmosphere in the team and he knows it is not easy to play for Chelsea because the competition is high in the squad.
"Shevchenko had a physical problem last year but now he has overcome that and we can use his quality for the team this year.
"He has no problem staying here. He wants to play but all the players want to play. When they don't play it is difficult to maintain a good feeling, a good atmosphere and motivation. But now he has a good motivation.
"He does not have a mental problem. He is well. But I have to choose who plays and it is not easy."
The frontman will be 33 at the end of this month but Ancelotti insists that age is not a criteria for him to pick good players.
Last season he kept faith with 40-year-old Paolo Maldini along with 35-year-olds Dida and Filippo Inzaghi among others.
"I used, in the last year, 38-, 39- and 40-year-olds because these players have experience and a good mental attitude," he continued.
"We won a lot with players with experience."
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