Chelsea: Shevchenko NOT set for director role

Chelsea have branded all talk that Andriy Shevchenko is set to be handed a backroom role at Stamford Bridge as "total nonsense".

Sources close to Shevchenko had earlier claimed to Goal that the former Chelsea striker is in discussions over becoming a director and is already talking with key figures inside the club’s dressing room.

The Ukrainian is a close friend of chairman Roman Abramovich and has often been a guest of the Russian billionaire’s at Chelsea matches in his SkyBox.

However, Chelsea have rubbished these claims with Head of Communications Steve Atkins branding the story as “total nonsense”.

Shevchenko has a poor relationship with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who is under pressure after a disastrous start to the season – with the Blues just one point above the relegation zone after 16 games.

The Ukrainian’s arrival as a player at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2006 came against Mourinho’s wishes and was a contributory factor to the manager's resignation during his first Chelsea spell.

The former attacker signed for Chelsea from AC Milan for £30 million but scored just nine Premier League goals during two seasons at the club.

The 39-year-old moved into politics after retiring as a player in 2012, but Chelsea deny he will be returning to the club.