Jose Mourinho admits there are nine 'untouchables' in his Chelsea team.
Jose Mourinho admits there are nine 'untouchables' in his Chelsea team, but Andrei Shevchenko is not on that list.
Shevchenko has struggled to recapture his best form since joining from Milan for £30 million and has been forced to refute rumours he wants to return to Italy.
And Mourinho has now confirmed that the Ukrainian striker is not guaranteed a place in his best side on current form.
Highlighting Shevchenko, and the right-back position, as areas of concern, the Chelsea manager insists he selects his team based on his players' form.
"We need to give Sheva time," said Mourinho in an interview to promote Children's Cancer Awareness Month, a campaign run by CLIC Sargent, the UK's top children's cancer charity.
"Sheva is not untouchable because of the way he is playing. I play the best players at the time.
"Makelele is untouchable because of the way he plays. Essien is untouchable because of the way he plays. Frank Lampard is untouchable because of the way he plays.
"It is not because I love them. It is because of the way they play. Michael Ballack is untouchable because of the way he plays. John Terry is untouchable, Ricardo Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Drogba, they are untouchable.
"The right-back is not untouchable. That is why I try this and that. But, at this moment, we have nine untouchable players. Players pick the team, not me."
Mourinho also dismissed the notion that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich pushes him to play Shevchenko.
He added: "He'd never do this. If he does this, it's because he doesn't trust the manager.
"If he doesn't trust the manager, he has enough money to sack me, to give me my compensation, send me home and bring another one in."
