The marquee Chelsea signing's stint at the club fell desperately short of expectation
Chelsea's latest signing Ashley Cole (C) celebrates the winning goal with his new teammates John Terry (L) Salomon Kalou (2nd L) Michael Ballack (3rd R) Didier Drogba (2nd R) and Andriy Shevchenko (R) while playing in his debut for the club against Charlton
Andriy Shevchenko was one of the best strikers in the world when he signed for Chelsea(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
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Andriy Shevchenko revealed he was worried he'd have to retire from football after the injury horrors he suffered at Chelsea.
The Blues continue their pre-season preparations with a friendly against AC Milan on Saturday. The Ukrainian legend had vastly different tenures at the two clubs, having won the Ballon d'Or and Champions League with the Italian outfit.
His impressive goal-scoring with Milan resulted in his then-British record £30million transfer to Stamford Bridge in 2006. Despite much expectation placed on the man who scored 173 goals in 296 games in Italy, Shevchenko was a shadow of his former self at Stamford Bridge.
He found the back of the net just 22 times in 77 appearances across two years before he was unceremoniously sent out on loan back to Milan in 2008, where he then netted only twice in 26 outings. Fans expecting to witness a strike partnership between Shevchenko and Didier Drogba were gravely disappointed.
The 49-year-old has since explained the reasons for his failed stint in west London, revealing that he arrived at the club handling a knee injury he suffered at the World Cup 2006 with Ukraine.
Opening up in his book, My Life, My Football, he said: "I would like people to understand my difficulties were due to physical issues. The fans were great with me, but sadly, I never managed to show them my best. I was afraid I was going to have to retire from football.
Andriy Shevchenko signs for Chelsea in 2006
Andriy Shevchenko's £30m transfer broke the British record (Image: Getty Images)
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"I felt bad for the people and the club. I'd have given the world to return the affection they were showing me. Instead, I was broken. I did my best and gave my all: that was just my way.
"Still, I knew my motor wasn't running as it ought to. The newspapers criticised me heavily but only I knew the real problem: that accursed fatigue that had never lifted." Despite failing to live up to expectations, Shevchenko played a key role in Chelsea's League Cup triumph in 2007, scoring three goals in four games.
Andriy Shevchenko in Roman Abramovich's private box back in 2016.
The Ukrainian legend has since opened up about his nightmare stint in London(Image: GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)
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However, injury struck Shevchenko again as he discovered a hernia that forced him to miss out on the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Liverpool and the FA Cup final against Manchester United. He then underwent summer surgery.
He explained: "During the operation, something didn't go to plan. I didn't get back to what I was before. I lost all my strength. I was in a rich vein of form — the worst possible moment to suffer an injury."
He made his return to fitness, but admitted the days of his prolific career in front of goal was over. He admitted: "I was barely a shadow of the player I used to be." The conclusion of his disappointing career at Chelsea ended with him watching his side's Champions League final defeat in 2008 against United from the bench.
He then discovered the return of his hernia before going under the knife for further surgery. Shevchenko called time on his career in 2012 with boyhood club Dynamo Kyiv.