Kaká backing Sheva to deliver

'Star'
Shevchenko has endured a difficult six months in London as he adjusts to the demands of a new league, but his former Rossoneri team-mate believes Chelsea fans will soon be seeing the best of the 30-year-old striker. "It is always hard for a player to adapt to a new country and a new school of football and that's why the English haven't seen the same player he was in Italy," Kaká told uefa.com. "Sooner rather than later he will become one of the stars of the Premiership, I'm sure."

Phenomenal record
Kaká is well placed to judge, having played provider for many of Shevchenko's goals during the three years the pair spent together at San Siro. After scoring 127 times in 208 Serie A appearances for Milan, the Ukrainian international has so far been unable to live up to expectations at Stamford Bridge, where a return of just three Premiership goals has put his first-team spot in doubt.

'Top man'
Indeed, talk of dressing-room unrest as Chelsea's form has dipped has increased the pressure on Shevchenko in recent weeks, prompting Kaká to come to the defence of his erstwhile colleague. "Sheva is a top man and one of the best strikers in the world and I can assure anybody that all those stories about his behaviour in the dressing room are rubbish. He always proved to be loyal to his team mates in Milan and can be a good friend."

Return to form
Perhaps Shevchenko is already turning the corner. He struck twice against Wycombe Wanderers FC in the League Cup semi-finals last week and was back among the goals on Sunday when his deflected shot opened the scoring in Chelsea's 3-0 FA Cup victory against Nottingham Forest FC.

Meeting
Chelsea will be hoping that run continues as they look towards their meeting with FC Porto in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League next month - and Kaká, who will visit London next week for Brazil's friendly against Portugal at the Arsenal Stadium, will be keeping a close eye on his progress. "Maybe when I am in London, I will also have a chance to catch up with my friend Shevchenko," he said. "I was glad to see him scoring goals again this week."

To read Kaká's diary in the uefa.com Magazine, click here.