Shevchenko, letter to football: “Without your joy my world would be dark and empty” – Football

The heat of the world’s emotions is set against the pain and tears of the bombs in Ukraine. A heart divided in half, that of the champion on one side and that of the person on the other. Andriy Shevchenkoformer AC Milan and Chelsea star, confesses in a moving letter to the ‘Times’.

“Salvation in football”

“I watch the World Cup and as soon as I see that magical green rectangle and the ball rolling, my whole life seems to go back in a second. In the blink of an eye I see thousands of photos and colors, like a surreal and fantastic film Tears have bathed my homeland Ukraine for months, with sadness defying our childhood lessons that a man never cries. But the ones that are flowing right now, as I write this letter, are of a different kind. These tears are made of another deep emotion, my love for our beautiful game. I write this thank you card from the darkness and emptiness that would be total if it weren’t for football, a big brother who gives you the strength to go get on with your life, even after seeing how fragile it is.”

“David Often Beats Goliath”

“I am not the type of person who expresses emotions easily – writes Sheva -. I know very well that each of us goes to bed and wakes up with our own thoughts, problems and dilemmas. However, I feel the need to write this letter of love to the most beautiful thing in the world. I will begin by thanking those enthusiasts and those geniuses who, more than 150 years ago, in English public schools, conceived and designed what would become a popular game. In those schools, educational, collective and and put their souls on the line. A noble thought that football has followed ever since. Because football is an ideal. A game that makes us dream big, where we are all the same and where David often beats Goliath in those 90 minutes . A land without borders”.

“The Super League is selfish madness”

“For real fans, it doesn’t matter if their team plays in Serie C, the Bundesliga or the Premier League – continues the Ukrainian star -. They dream and live their passion, passing it on to their children, generation after generation. For these and a thousand other reasons , that selfish madness called Superlega was swept away in just two days. First of all by the fury of the fans. By people who experience football from morning to night. By people who go to sleep and wake up thinking: ‘When is the next game? ‘. The same people who sleep in their team shirts and proudly wear their teams scarves to work. Those who wanted to change this have never smelled the grass of a playing field, never really cheered in the stands, and don’t know what it’s like in a dressing room or in a hostile match away from home.For all their millions, these are poor people who fail to understand the true beauty and power of the game of football.Fortu nally, the world stood united in defending the history and principles of football”.

“The joy of the goal is an immense emotion”

“For them, football is ‘boring’ and it has to change to fit their idea of ​​’fun’. So they ended up as they deserved, lost in the void of their own empty thoughts. I admit it, political leaders all over Europe have surprised me by understanding what our beautiful game means for modern society. As a man of football, I thank them all. My dear football, with this little letter I want to thank you for so many things you have taught me and given me! Thank you for the privilege of playing in the most beautiful in the world and in the most extraordinary competitions. Thank you for giving me the comrades and friends with whom I have lived and shared thousands of battles. Thank you for the great opponents from whom I learned so much. Thanks to the sufferings and defeats, they made me more strong. Thanks also to the coaches, our father figures, who guided us towards correct growth. Thanks for the cups and league titles won, especially for the Champions League. And thanks for the joy of the goals, that one is immense like no other”.

“We are fighting the fight of our lives”

“However, I offer you a special thank you for allowing me to represent my country, my beloved Ukraine. As captain, I wore our blue and gold jersey to both the World Cup and the European Championship. I could use any word to describe this feeling, but would never do it justice. Dear football I was lucky to have you and never lose you, to love you as deeply as the first day I met you on the suburban streets of my Kiev. Today, even stronger than ever. Thank you a thousand my friend. I love you. Finally, a big thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to each of you for being so kind and standing by my people in these dark times. We are fighting the fight of our lives to defend our homes and our country – concludes Shevchenko -. Slava futbolu, Slava Ukrayini!”.