Shevchenko ready to roll back years

FC Dynamo Kyiv legend Andriy Shevchenko has vowed to "make the fans happy" after leaving Chelsea FC to rejoin the club where he started his career. A decade after leaving for AC Milan, the 32-year-old striker sealed his return to Dynamo at the weekend and is poised to make his second debut for the capital club in the league match against FC Metallurh Donetsk on Monday.

'Time to return'
"First of all, I would like to thank [Chelsea owner] Roman Abramovich and [Dynamo president] Igor Surkis for making the transfer possible," Shevchenko said after training with his new team-mates for the first time on Sunday. "I also want to thank the coach Valeri Gazzaev, whom I am really happy to have the chance to work with. I've had ten years abroad but now it's time to return. I want to honour the club and make the fans happy; I'm really pleased to be back."

Hugely popular
The six-time Ukrainian Footballer of the Year remains hugely popular at Dynamo, having scored 60 goals in 116 league games as well as helping his hometown team reach the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in 1998/99. Gazzaev's men will do well to emulate that achievement this season after being pooled with FC Barcelona, FC Internazionale Milano and FC Rubin Kazan in the group stage, yet Shevchenko does not think the Ukrainian titleholders should be daunted by the draw.

'Tough group'
"We have a very tough group, but that's even better for Dynamo," said Ukraine's record goalscorer, who has signed a one-year contract with the option of a further 12 months. "We respect our opponents and we expect them to adopt the same attitude towards us. Everybody should respect, or even fear, this club." Dynamo begin their latest European campaign against Rubin in Russia on 16 September.