Andriy Shevchenko has ruled out a return to AC Milan after insisting he is committed to Chelsea. The Ukrainian striker has struggled for form and fitness after his £30 million move to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2006 and has been persistently linked with a move back to Italy.

However, the 31-year-old has stressed he is happy with life in London - and he believes his former club have discovered a worthy successor in Alexandre Pato, the 18-year-old Brazilian.

"My life is at Chelsea now, I have served my time with Milan. I am at a big club and the team is doing well. Life is not only about the past," Shevchenko, who won Serie A and the Champions League during his seven years with Milan, said.

"I am delighted with the mark I left behind at Milan and gave the best I had in seven glorious seasons. I love Milan and I love Italy, and I have always said that. There is always somebody to take your place and the future is Pato.

"He has a way of playing which is similar to mine. He understands the game and finds gaps. I never liked standing still, and I can see that he doesn't like it either. At only 18, he is already so good."