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On Sunday, the managing director of London's Chelsea Football Club, Peter Kenyon, announced that the team, which won the Football Association Cup on Saturday, promised to sell three players during the offseason, but neither Ukrainian Andriy Shevchenko nor Michael Ballack are among them.
"It won't happen (referring to the sale of Shevchenko and Ballack). We bought these two players for three, four years, not for just one season, and we know very well that they are talented and promising," Kenyon said in an interview given to the BBC.
"I am sure they will be important players for the Chelsea team next season," explained the managing director.
Ukrainian national team striker A. Shevchenko, bought from AC Milan for £30 million, and former Bayern Munich midfielder M. Ballack did not meet the expectations placed on them before the start of the Premier League season, although both played a significant role in the team's participation in the Football Association Cup.
"They feel they can give much more. It takes time to adjust," Kenyon repeated words heard earlier this year. "They are both fantastic professional footballers and I believe it will be a great sight to see them playing in their best form next season."
Furthermore, the Chelsea managing director added that the club would like to acquire three or four players so that Jose Mourinho's team would not have to struggle as much as they did this season, with key players suffering serious injuries: "I think three players will leave us and three or four will be added."
"I don't think we will be buying very famous players, because I don't think we need to. We are looking at something for the central defense, the back line, and a forward," Kenyon revealed his plans.
He also added that he hopes to soon finalize contract extension negotiations with England national team players John Terry and Frank Lampard: "We want Frank to stay, and Frank clearly said yesterday that he wants to stay, which is a great basis for concluding contract negotiations."
