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Andriy Shevchenko believes AC Milan's Kaka is the best player in the world ahead of Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo. The Chelsea striker played with 25-year-old Kaka at Milan before joining the Premiership champions last summer.
"Kaka is the strongest player in the world," Shevchenko said. "He deserves the Ballon D'Or (European player of the year award) and I'm certain he will get it, if not this time maybe in the not-too-distant future."
Shevchenko believes his former team still have the upper hand in the race to reach the Champions League final despite losing 3-2 at Old Trafford in Tuesday's semi-final first-leg against United.
"At Manchester, Milan played exceptional football in the first half and were hindered with the injuries to Gennaro Gattuso and Paolo Maldini," he said. "Milan are a likeable team because they always play beautiful games.
"They play open football and in the Champions League they have played better. There is a respect for their top players and for the club. Milan have what it takes to progress to the final."
Shevchenko admits that meeting Milan in the final in Athens would be in some ways an ordeal for him.
"I still don't want to think about it," he said. "There are still games to play before the final. Of course, for me it would be a thrilling evening and complicated, because Milan is not my former team but a family, a part of my life."
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clear bias shown from shevchenko can be seen here. Yes the game at OT changed when they lost gattuso and maldini, he seems to forget though that we were without three world class international defenders for the whole game. It is fair to suggest that should these have been playing, as good as kaka is he wouldnt have scored both goals, his first was to beat carrick and heinze for pace, wouldnt have happened if ferdinand was playing, his second was a gift and with the time and space he had my gran would have scored! I read that the italians were saying in their press that kaka scored two beautiful goals, well im sorry but what game were they watching? Finally their coach had said prior to the match that we are a predictable team, bet he didnt predict that result did he now!! Setting this aside roll on next week for another magnificent game of attacking football!
gareth, leeds, yorkshire
Another attempt at winding up from Chelsea! No mention by Shevchenko of the injury toll that United were carrying on Tuesday nor recognition that Milan and Chelsea are unlikely to even get to the final.
Add this unsporting provocation to the fevered rantings of Mourinho and you can see that Chelsea are trying to control their fate through applying psychological pressure rather than through playing football. Very sad!
Tom, Colchester,
Kaka is a very good player, another player in his own team,
Joe Cole could well be every bit as good as Kaka. Bring on Milan in Athens let the game begin.
steve, Redruth,