Shevchenko bemoans Blue ruin

If anyone knows about the joy and despair of UEFA Champions League penalty shoot-outs, it is Chelsea FC striker Andriy Shevchenko. He scored the winner in the 2003 UEFA Champions League final for AC Milan, then missed the decisive penalty for the same club against Liverpool FC in the final two years later.

Desolate emotions
An hour after watching his Chelsea team-mates crash out of this season's competition at the hands of Liverpool, Shevchenko was just about the only Blues player who could find the words to describe the lottery of penalties and the desolate emotions in defeat. Shevchenko was ruled out of the semi-final second leg with a groin injury and was left to watch in frustration from the directors' box at Anfield as Liverpool took the tie to extra time, with Daniel Agger's first-half goal levelling the aggregate score at 1-1, before beating Chelsea 4-1 on penalties with Pepe Reina saving spot-kicks from Arjen Robben and Geremi.

'Really sorry'
After the match, the bitterly disappointed Chelsea stars trudged back on to the team bus without giving interviews as they reflected on the club's third UEFA Champions League semi-final defeat since 2004 - and their second at Anfield. It was left to Shevchenko to talk to the reaction-hungry journalists outside the players' entrance and he said: "It was a great opportunity and I'm really, really sorry and sad."

'Good heart'
The Ukrainian international felt Chelsea were desperately unlucky not to go through to their first UEFA Champions League final. "The team played very well and with good heart but penalties are a lottery," he said. "It was a game where both teams created a lot and they both had chances to win the match during the 120 minutes. Our team has been great this season and Chelsea still have a great squad."

Rumours quashed
Some had suggested that Shevchenko had refused to start the semi-final on the bench after being dropped by José Mourinho but the Chelsea forward insisted his injury was genuine. "The decision was made that I couldn't play on Sunday when the doctor spoke with the manager and the club," said Shevchenko. "It's been a very difficult time for me with injuries and it just happened to me at this time of the season. I really wanted to be available to play this game but the injury didn't allow it. I had a scan this morning and we will see what the doctor's verdict is."