Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko wants to prove a point to England in Saturday's World Cup qualifier.
Former Chelsea star claims he started on back foot with Blues
Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko is determined to prove a point to England in Saturday's 2010 World Cup qualifier.
The former Chelsea striker has been branded a flop in the Premier League after failing to make the grade following a £30million move from AC Milan in 2006.
Shevchenko called it quits on his time in England this summer when accepting a free transfer return to Dynamo Kiev, having scored just nine times in 48 league games.
But the 33-year-old claims he started on the back foot with Chelsea and never truly recovered after aggravating an injury at the 2006 World Cup.
"I was not prepared for the World Cup," he said in the
Daily Mail. "I trained only in the week before the first game against Spain. I brought a physio, who put me on my feet after each match.
"But still I couldn't play at even 50 per cent of my capacity and left a lot of strength in Germany.
"When you're not ready for the tournament, it is necessary to compensate by giving more physically. Perhaps that affected me in the future. But I couldn't not play in the 2006 World Cup."
Ukraine still have a chance of reaching the play-offs for next summer's World Cup and will therefore be desperate for a win when already-qualified England arrive.
