Chelsea could meet their Premiership title rivals three times in 14 days if both clubs reach the European showpiece in Athens on May 23 which follows their meetings in the league and the FA Cup final.

However, Shevchenko, who joined the Blues from Milan for £30million last summer, claims he would prefer to play against his old team.

The Ukrainian striker missed a penalty for Milan during the dramatic shoot out that saw Liverpool fight back from a three-goal deficit to take the Euro crown two years ago.

Liverpool defeated Chelsea in the semi-finals that year with a controversial goal from Luis Garcia - a 'strike' that Blues coach Jose Mourinho still insists never crossed the line.

Both clubs are now preparing to face each other in a semi-final re-match while Milan must get past Manchester United. But Shevchenko is adamant he would rather face Milan than Sir Alex Ferguson's side for a third time.

Shevchenko said: "This season we are fighting against Manchester United on every front. Besides the domestic league and the Champions League, we will have to play against them in the English Cup, which is also very important.

"But I have already said it, in Athens I would like to face AC Milan. However, I don't like talking about a game that is not yet even in the programme."

Shevchenko maintains he will shut out all the memories of Liverpool's Champions League victory over Milan in the semis.

Talking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Shevchenko added: "There will not be any sporting revenge, why does everyone speak about the past? For me the word is future. I will play against Liverpool without thinking about what happened in that cursed Champions League final.

"It's going to be difficult. Liverpool are very strong, especially in the Champions League."

The Ukrainian striker has endured a difficult first season at Stamford Bridge and has been criticised for his poor performances - particularly in the Premiership.

He was substituted during the FA Cup semi-final win over Blackburn in the second half on Sunday after wasting a golden chance to put the Blues 2-0 in front with an embarrassing miss.

The 30-year-old admits to having problems adapting to a new style of football and says the criticism has upset him.

He added: "I have had my share of problems but they have all been related to having to adapt with a different reality, a new language, the different style of football, it is not easy.

"Here you play very competitive football. I am only saddened that so many people have criticised me at the start of the season when things weren't going well. I have also spoken to Michael Ballack about this.

"I accept any criticism regarding my play but I cannot accept those personal criticisms. Even Michael has received harsh criticism regarding his performances, without giving him the time to improve."

Manager Jose Mourinho's future at the club also remains uncertain along with those of captain John Terry and midfielder Frank Lampard.

All three insist they want to remain in west London but contracts talks with Terry have collapsed and no firm offer of an extension has been made to Lampard.

Mourinho is determined to see out his contract which has three years left to run but speculation continues to indicate that Russian owner Roman Abramovich may axe him - even if the Portuguese coach delivers an unprecedented quadruple of trophies this season.

All seemed to be well between coach and owner after their semi-final win at Old Trafford on Sunday but many issues remain unresolved.

Terry has made it clear he hopes the club "does the right thing" by Mourinho and Shevchenko insists the group remains united.

When asked about Mourinho's future, Shevchenko added: "It's not for me to say. I am just a player and I do my job. The rest only serves to create controversy. We are united and we are stronger than everything.

"He is able to charge up the group in a different way. He has a lot of confidence in himself and his ideas have been very clear to me since the beginning, despite what others say."