"I've watched it many times since, and the more I watch it, the more difficult it is to find explanations, " he says, after training on Thursday. The Ukranian speaks through a translator, who communicates with him in Italian. "I've got great respect for Liverpool, but for a team winning 3-0 at half-time and playing very good football, it's just something that I can't explain. I still can't believe the result. But that's the past."

The striker adds wryly: "Liverpool are a very good team. One of the most important clubs in the world. But I'd like, for once in my life, to win against them. I've played against them twice (admittedly one was in this year's Community Shield), and twice I've lost."

Today, he is offered such a possibility, with his new club, at Stamford Bridge as hostilities are resumed between two sides, and two managers, who have been ultra-sensitive to miscarriages of justices and perceived and real slights.

There has been something of a thaw this week, with hands being proffered, but you suspect it won't require too much to trigger yet more vitriol.

Shevchenko will be privately more concerned with increasing his goalscoring ratio. One goal against Liverpool at Cardiff (in a defeat) and one against Middlesbrough (another defeat) were not the anticipated return for a man hired at a cost of £30 million, and who is arguably the world's most prized striker.

If you're Jimmy Average from Longball United you are allowed time for assimilation. If you're even Peter Crouch of Liverpool the same can be true. There was almost pity rather than outright condemnation for the England striker, likely to be in opposition today, when goals eluded him for what seemed an eternity when he first joined Liverpool. But if you're Shevchenko, former European Footballer of the Year, scorer of 94 goals in 166 games for Dynamo Kyiv and 173 in 296 for Milan, judgement is harsh. He would expect nothing less.

Goals have been expected of him since he played for the Dynamo Kyiv under-14 team in the Ian Rush Cup in Wales and was top scorer in the tournament. His reward was a pair of the former Liverpool striker's boots, presented by the man himself.

Shevchenko insists that nobody can rival Valeri Lobanovsky, at various times the Kyiv and Ukraine coach, for what he contributed to his career, "but others, particularly (Carlo) Ancelotti, have helped me in their own ways." Jose Mourinho, he describes as "very involved with every player. He is very tactically aware."

Since his initial goals for Chelsea, he has at times appeared somewhat bemused by the dearth of service in a side which has lacked the width that would normally be provided by Arjen Robben and Joe Cole, who have been injured. Robben is back in contention today.

Still, there is already muttering in some quarters, questioning the Ukranian's pace and fitness.

There is, however, an insouciance from a player who will doubtless have been the recipient of similar observations over the years. He insists: "I've only played six games. I'm [nearly] 30 years old and in my past, I've done a lot of important things in football. What I'm doing is working 100 per cent for the team, and for this club.

I'm clear in what I want to do. I think we're still trying to get some proper rhythm. It's important to be a collective group. Sometimes we will not play well, but it is very important that we stay together." Did he feel the pressure of expectation?

"I believe I'm doing things for the team, but I always put a lot of pressure on myself to play well, " Shevchenko insists, disputing the contention that it should be easier to score in the Premiership than Serie A. "There isn't an easy championship, " he maintains. "It's difficult to score goals anywhere. Football is not an individual game. It's a collective game."

He says he admires Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o, and Thierry Henry. "I like players that play very intelligently, that score goals and work for the team. There are also forwards who don't score as many goals, but make a lot of movement, which leaves other players free to score goals; players like those I have mentioned, and also Kaka."

Certainly, he is not fazed by the stature of some of his team-mates. He was asked whether he ever come across such an inspirational figure as John Terry before?

"Ci, Paolo Maldini."

That didn't need any translating.

And the presence of Michael Ballack? "No doubt, he will be a great acquisition for Chelsea."

How did he regard the criticism that Roman Abramovich's money had bought two Premiership titles? "In any sport in the world, you can't buy success, " he retorts. "If you did that, it wouldn't be sport. I see here many players who want to work very hard, and are very motivated. The mentality of the team is to be 100 per cent every game."

Two years ago, he married the American model Kristen Pazik in Washington DC. They had met at a Giorgio Armani party. Milan, the US. . . there are many places the striker could make his home once he retires?

He was asked if he envisaged a long career in England? It provokes perhaps the most surprising response of all. "I think I will stay here and live, " he declares. "I like the ambience of London, and the people here give you respect."

Mourinho will hope that Shevchenko is still convinced of that by the season's end.

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