Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko (File Photo)

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said Wednesday a space will be kept open in the squad for Andriy Shevchenko if he decides to return to the Champions League finalists.

The Ukraine striker has struggled in his first season in England with Chelsea and has been constantly linked with a move back to the San Siro, where he spent seven successful years.

"Sheva remains in our hearts, he and his wife have been invited to Athens to follow the Champions League final," Galliani told a news conference.

"As for the future, let's see, he is a Chelsea player. Anyway, he knows, we will keep a place open for a few months seeing as after his marriage Kaka has freed up a non-European Union place."

Milan faces Liverpool in the Champions League final in the Greek capital on May 23 after the English side beat Chelsea in the semifinals.

Shevchenko remains close to Milan's hierarchy and media reports have said his wife was behind their move to London.

Meanwhile, Chelsea is fast approaching Liverpool's record sequence of unbeaten home league games.

If Chelsea avoids defeat against newly crowned Premier League champion Manchester United late yesterday and against Everton on Sunday, it will match Liverpool's all-time record of 63 undefeated games between February 1978 and January 1981.

Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel said he and his teammates were well aware the record was around the corner.

"We have been told about the run and we hope to keep it by not losing tomorrow," Mikel told the club's Website. "We have lost the league but we still have the same spirit, the same momentum that we use to play every game and we will use it to play this one as well."

Mikel, 20, was the subject of a tug of war between Chelsea and United before sealing his move to Stamford Bridge from Norwegians Lyn Oslo last June.

"I don't have anything to prove or anything to show in this game," said the Nigerian. "I just want to go out there and enjoy myself and make sure we win."

Mikel will also try to convince manager Jose Mourinho to pick him when the two teams meet again in the FA Cup final at rebuilt Wembley on May 19.

"It all depends on the manager, he knows what he is doing and he will make sure he puts his best team out for the final," Mikel said.

Editor: Donald