Andriy Shevchenko's Perfect XI: Creative maestro Kaka and exceptionally dangerous John Terry

                                                                  SHEVCHENKO

The former Dynamo Kyiv, Milan, Chelsea and Ukraine striker names his greatest team-mates and opponents across a career that saw him score over 350 goals for club and country...

Goalkeeper

Gianluigi Buffon

An exceptional keeper with incredible reactions. I won the penalty duel against him in the 2003 Champions League Final but Buffon saved far more of my shots than I scored past him.

Right-back

Cafu
A warrior on the field and a sincere, kind man off it. Strong and powerful, his runs from defence led to numerous goals at AC Milan and his jokes helped to ease the pressure during training and in matches.

Centre-back

John Terry
A resolute defender and a natural leader, he can calm the panicky behaviour of players. His trademarks are anticipation and judgment. He's also exceptionally dangerous from attacking corners.

Centre-back

Alessandro Nesta

I've never seen a better reader of the game. A supremely intelligent and pacy defender, he made a great contribution in AC Milan's efforts to keep Juventus at bay in the 2003 Champions League Final.

Left-back

Paolo Maldini

The most gifted and hard-working player I've ever seen. He was an excellent all-round footballer with true leadership virtues and the rare ability to be reliable in defence and creative in attack.

Right midfield

Kaka

A creative maestro who dictates the pace of the game. It was a real pleasure to be in the same side as he supplied me with incredibly precise passes. I scored a lot thanks to his clever deliveries.

Centre-midfield

Steven Gerrard
A world-class midfielder, Gerrard loves to lead by example and is famous for his never-say-die attitude. He loves to run at and beat defenders, and is blessed with a powerful and precise shot.

Centre-midfield

Zinedine Zidane

He could do magical things using his vision, technique and powerful shot. During games it was impossible to predict his next move. Off the pitch, he was a kind and generous man. 

Left-midfield

Lionel Messi
It's difficult to find another player who can dribble and score like Messi. He is the attacking player of the 21st century. I can't even specify his position. He's everywhere, making fools of defenders.

Centre-forward

Ronaldo

Skilful, powerful and takes chances like a machine. His strike-rate for every team he's played for tells you everything. I can only imagine what he could have done in football if not for his injuries.

Centre-forward

Wayne Rooney

No player in modern football can match his efficiency and work-rate, and he's not egotistical like many men of his speciality. He's the sort of magnificent team player every coach wants in his starting XI. 

Substitutes:

Petr Cech
I have great respect for Cech, who stayed in football despite a terrible injury.

Carles Puyol
A superb defender who makes the complete sacrifice for his team.

Michael Ballack
A utility man of great talent and determination in midfield.

Frank Lampard

My former Chelsea team-mate can start and finish a team's attacks.

Andrea Pirlo

A clever, generous midfielder who can pass over any distance.

Ryan Giggs

Mr Gentleman of modern football: wise and creative, with wonderful individual skills.

Cristiano Ronaldo

He adds to his tricks with tactical wisdom, work-rate and ball control.

Chelsea transfer news: Five Blues stars set to face the axe as Antonio Conte lines up major shake-up

                                                                      CONTE

ANTONIO CONTE is set to lead Chelsea into a new era – by axing FIVE big name stars from his squad.

The Italian chief, 47, is said to be disheartened by his team’s start to the season – and even more frustrated that he managed to land one of his summer targets.

Conte – fresh from his time with the Italian national side – was happy be managed to land former Leicester midfielder N’Golo Kante, but is said to be angered at the Stamford Bridge hierarchy’s lack of ambition in helping him land other key targets.

                                                                     IVANOVIC

According to reports, the signing of Michy Batshuayi was completed in order to pacify sporting director Michael Emenalo.

Meanwhile, the late swoop for David Luiz and Marcos Alonso was purely desperation in order to give the squad depth.

Conte has told Roman Abramovich the squad needs to be torn down to its foundations and rebuilt – starting with a five-player cull in January.

The players with their heads on the block appear to be Nemanja Matic, Branislav Ivanovic, Cesc Fabregas, Oscar and Gary Cahill.

Italian ace Conte is less than impressed with the quintet, suggesting they were purely over-performing at times under Jose Mourinho and they will never be able to replicate that form again.

                                                                         CAHILL

Following the 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Arsenal, Conte slammed his team, claiming they are a good squad in theory, but not in reality.

He said: “We are a great team only on paper, not on the pitch.

“I prefer to be a great team not only on paper but also on the pitch. The pitch is the truth. The pitch speaks.

                                                                      FABREGAS

“The pitch is the most important thing for us: not the words, not on paper. We must work to change this. We must work a lot”

The Blues currently sit just eighth in the Premier League table following losses at the hands of the Gunners and Liverpool in their past two top flight games.

In fact, Chelsea’s last win in the league came over a month ago, when they thumped Burnley 3-0 – having drawn 2-2 at Swansea as well as the pair of losses since.

                                                                       MATIC