Shevchenko was in the Milan side beaten by Liverpool in 2005

The club also insisted there was not any rift between the Ukrainian and his team-mates or the club over the issue.

"He suffered an injury in training on Sunday and it was decided afterwards that he was not fit to play against Liverpool," said a Blues statement.

"Therefore, like other injured players, he did not travel."

Shevchenko, who was in the Milan side beaten by Liverpool in the 2005 final, was also keen to dispel any suggestion of discontent or a split in the Chelsea camp.

Name me one player on earth who would risk not playing in the FA Cup final or a Champions League semi-final because of a Euro 2008 qualifier against San Marino Michael Ballack

"I am really sorry to miss the match and can't be with the team to help and support them in what must be one of the most important games in Chelsea's history," he said on his own website.

"I will remain in London and work hard on my rehabilitation to ensure I can make myself available as soon as possible."

Another big-name import from the start of this season, Michael Ballack, has also reportedly fallen out with Chelsea after having an operation on his ankle in Germany.

Reports claimed Chelsea were angry that the operation, by Germany's national team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt, went ahead without their consent.

It is now likely that Ballack will miss the FA Cup final against Manchester United, having already been ruled out of the Champions League second leg at Liverpool.

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on Shevchenko and Chelsea

Harald Stenger, a spokesman for the DFB (Germany's football association) said: "Our team doctor informed us that, based on his diagnosis from Friday, an immediate operation was necessary and unavoidable.

"Wohlfahrt detected loose bone splints in Ballack's left high ankle as a result of the injury sustained in the game against Newcastle.

"Any further training session or game could have potentially endangered the player's health, or even threatened Michael Ballack's career.

"Mueller-Wohlfahrt has assured us that he had informed Chelsea's two physicians before he performed the surgery."

Ballack himself laughed off any suggestion that he had the operation with a view to taking part in Germany's Euro 2008 qualifiers against San Marino and Slovakia in June.

"Anybody saying that this operation was done because I was looking at the two Germany games in the beginning of June has to be kidding.