Ballack responds to Ferguson's statement

The talented Michael Ballack has hit back at Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson's suggestion that Chelsea will be less of a threat in the upcoming season.

Alex Ferguson said that he did not expect to see "outstanding progress coming from a team in their 30s".

But the German player said: "Our team can still improve. If you are 30 or 31 you are not old.

"Claude Makelele was 34 and played well last season. This sort of banter occurs between people during the summer."

Makelele, now 35, switched to French club Paris St Germain on Monday, while Ballack has recently joined up with the Chelsea squad on tour in the Far East after helping Germany reach the final of Euro 2008.

He is looking forward to working with new Blues boss Luiz Felipe Scolari at Stamford Bridge.

"It is different, you know someone for a few moments but now we are together every day and I am looking forward to it," he added.

"in fact, we have only talked for a few minutes since he took over but he is a nice person. He is a successful coach and that is why he is here. He has not spoken to me about his philosophy but we have a good team like last year and we can play a lot of systems."

Michael Ballack also revealed that he would like England midfielder Frank Lampard to remain at the club next season. The 30-year-old former West Ham star has been linked with a move to Inter Milan during the summer transfer window.

"It would be fantastic if he could stay at Chelsea," stated Ballack.

"He is a big player for the club and has done a lot for the club but it is up to him. He knows we are all behind him."

Meanwhile, Chelsea defender Jose Bosingwa is facing three weeks on the sidelines after tearing a thigh muscle on his debut and is poised to miss the Premier League opener against Portsmouth on 17 August.

The 25-year-old, who joined the Blues in a £16.2m move from Porto in May, managed only 20 minutes against Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Pharmaceutical on the Far East tour before suffering the problem.

He was sent for a scan in Macau and it was then decided to send him back to England for treatment.

Blues boss Scolari confirmed: "He is out for two weeks minimum for treatment and he won't be able to play for three weeks.

"At the moment, he is out of the first clash against Portsmouth. I have players who can cover."

Ballack and Cech invite Lampard to stay at Chelsea

According to many newspapers in Europe, the talented Frank Lampard is about to move to italian club Inter of Milan.

That's why Micheal Ballack publicly invited Lampard to stay: "He knows that we need him- he said-, it would be great if he stayed here with us. He is a big player and he has done a lot for Chelsea, but it just depends on him".

The same words come out of the Czech goalkeeper's, Peter Cech, mouth: "I hope he will renew his contract, anyway he is certainly playing with us next year".

Chelsea increases expectations in their Asian tour

Luiz Felipe Scolari can be proud of his start at Chelsea: with two handsome wins and 11 goals. However, it would be premature to hail the Brazilian’s rebranded team as the great entertainers.

Indeed, such was the poverty of the opposition in Macau yesterday that Chelsea’s players have probably exerted themselves more in kickabouts in their back gardens. The visitors were able to stroll through this game, slicing open their hosts at will. Had they wanted to rack up double figures, they would surely have done so. Total control? Absolutely. But did they showed a total football? I can say they didn't.

In midweek, Luis Felipe Scolari growled at the mere mention of Jose Mourinho, stating that, like the famous Sinatra, he would do it his way and that beautiful football would come second to winning.

But the message from his footballers is that the former Brazil and Portugal manager is advocating a more gung-ho style in training, with two strikers rather than the one that has been the norm, and the club’s deep reservoir of attacking midfielders encouraged to show their creativity in football.

Yet there was more than a hint of Jose Mourinho in the personnel and formation that Scolari selected. It was a strong starting XI for late July and the tactics were a throw-back to Mourinho’s time, three central midfielders and two wingers complementing a single striker, in this case the French Nicolas Anelka.

As hosts, Chengdu Blades could not have been more hospitable. They are owned by Sheffield United but they showed no steel. The Blues scored three in the first half and four in the second, the pick of which was a delightful backheeled flick from substitute Joe Cole, one of two goals for the winger in his first pre-season game. Anelka, Salomon Kalou, Frank Lampard, Argentinian teenager Franco Di Santo and Shaun Wright-Phillips weighed in with goals.

Indeed, there was occasional slickness in Chelsea’s play, Essien typically shining in two different roles, firstly anchoring the midfield and later at right-back, while Deco and Frank Lampard dovetailed effectively in central midfield without getting in one other’s way. On the down side, Deco made a few rash challenges and would surely have been shown a yellow card in a Premier League fixture.

It's interesting to see that Scolari was a relaxed presence on the bench, choosing to stay rooted to his seat for the whole game. He clapped the opening two goals, was undemonstrative for the rest and laughed when the seventh crept in via Wright-Phillips’s shoulder.

Pre-season rides do not come much easier than this but Scolari says it was exactly the type of run-out he wanted and that his lineup for the opening Premier League match against Portsmouth on August 16 will be shaped by the considerably tougher fixtures in Moscow on Friday and Sunday.

“Look, for us, this is match training. If I was at Cobham it would make it the same,” he expressed. “We are here not only to play games but other things and for me it is better because I build my team for the Russian games and after that I have the team for the first game against Portsmouth.”

One footballer the manager knows very well is Deco, who contributed a full 90-minute shift despite his exertions for Portugal in the summer, evidence perhaps that Scolari wants this key cog in the wheel in prime shape for the start of the league season.


Goals: Chelsea: Anelka 15, Kalou 31, Lampard 38, J Cole 55, 82, Di Santo 66, Wright-Phillips 83

CHENGDU BLADES: Lan Yi, Liu Cheng, Demar, Li Mingyi (Ding Qi 55min), Zhu Xiaogang (Xu Chao 62min), Zhang Chaosong (Yang Zezhi h-t), Li Tie (Peng Xingli 78min), Xia Qiqi (Zhou Peng 55min), Zhou Yougen (Jiang Xiaoyu 82min), Shi Jun (Denilson h-t), Wang Song

CHELSEA: Cech (Hilario 60min), Ferreira (Ivanovic h-t), Alex (Carvalho h-t), Terry (J Cole 53min), A Cole (Bridge h-t), Deco, Essien, Lampard (Mikel h-t), Wright-Phillips, Anelka (Di Santo 60min), Kalou (Malouda h-t)

Ballack must accept another second place in his career

No matter how hard he fights. Michael Ballack even wound up with a gash above his right eye but his team was defeated 1-0 in the European Championship final against Spain and now has another runner-up medal to go with the three he collected with Chelsea this past season.

Second place yet again a month after Ballack and his FC Chelsea teammates lost a penalty shootout to Manchester United in the Champions League final and the Red Devils edged them to the Premier League title. Add that to a loss to Tottenham Hotspurs in the less prestigious League Cup final at Wembley Stadium, and that makes four runner-up prizes in four months for the Germany captain.

It also means that the nation that has won the title three times and was in its sixth final now hasn't won one of soccer's top international prizes in 12 years. Make that 14 because the next championship, the World Cup, isn't for another two years.

At the end of a game he nearly missed because of a calf muscle injury, Ballack stood near the centre circle, almost surrounded by Spanish players celebrating their deserved victory and first European title in 44 years. At first anyone would go near him. Eventually he was consoled by Germany coach Joachim Loew and, slowly, his teammates went up to share the pain he was feeling.

While Michael Ballack stands every chance of winning trophies with Chelsea next season, he must now wonder when he's going to win a title in national colours.

World Cup qualifying starts for Germany in September and those finals aren't until 2010, when he will be 33.

While Spain thoroughly deserved its victory and long overdue title, it's easy to feel sorry for Ballack. Although he won Bundesliga and cup titles with Bayern Munich, he also lost in the 2002 Champions League final when Bayer Leverkusen went down to Real Madrid.

Ballack also missed out at the 2000 and 2004 Euros when Germany was knocked out in the first round each time. He also missed out on playing in the World Cup final in 2002 in Yokohama, Japan, because of suspension and had to watch Germany lose to Brazil 2-0.

However, this final should have been made for him. The possibility of him missing the game through a calf muscle injury that flared up two days ago set up a dramatic story on the day of the final. Would Germany's captain and inspirational figure run out to lead the squad for its biggest game since the 2002 World Cup final?

When the team lineups were announced, there was a collective gasp of relief from the 15,000 German fans in the Ernst Happel Stadium and trepidation among the Spaniards that Ballack might at last produce the performance that would deny them a title they had been waiting for since the 1964 European Championship.

Showing no signs of the calf muscle injury, Ballack was in the game early and Germany created the better chances in the early stages. He pushed the ball through the legs of Spain defender Carles Puyol and delivered a cross but no German was there to take advantage.

But the talented Spain went ahead through Fernando Torres' 33rd-minute goal and, from then on, it became a struggle for Ballack and his team.

When the captain went up to challenge Spain midfielder Marcos Senna for a header, he fell to the turf with blood seeping from a cut near his right eye.

He was up after two minutes and back on the field. But the doubtful referee Rosetti ran over to him, examined his eye in the manner boxing referees do to injured fighters, and sent him off again to get more treatment. Once more Michael was lying on his leg as German trainers dabbed his eye and tried to stop the flow of blood and, forced to change his bloodstained shirt, was back on the field again.

First the calf muscle scare and now the sight of their captain lying on his back being treated for a cut. No wonder German fans don't think football gives them many breaks these days after all those years of titles and domination.

Almost as if the blow on the head had affected him, Ballack was involved in a scuffle with Spain defenders Carlos Marchena and Carles Puyol only two minutes before halftime and wound with a yellow card from Rosetti after he fouled one of the Spaniards.

He cooled down enough after the break and almost scored Germany's equalizer in the 59th minute with a first-time shot which flicked the side of the net.

With Spain chasing a second goal, however, Ballack was labouring in his midfield role and struggling to get back to help his overworked defenders. With time running out, he would stand with his hands on his hips wondering how he could manage to turn the game around.

All those runner-up medals and semifinals and near misses are a poor return for one of Germany's greats. This should have been Michael Ballack's day. The one big chance to show frustrated German fans that he could deliver the title after all those disappointments.

However, it was another great opportunity that ran away. A little like the blood that trickled down the side of his face.

Ballack chooses yacht club for his wedding reception

German footballer Michael Ballack has chosen an exclusive and fancy yacht club for his wedding reception later this month, according to some newspaper.

Indeed, the Chelsea midfielder is due to marry his long-time partner Simone Lambe, 30, at a ceremony ahead of the reception in the Bavarian Yacht Club on Lake Starnberg at the foot of the German Alps.

It's quite interesting to say that 400 guests are due to attend the reception, expected to take place July 14-15, the Munich newspaper tz reported.

The couple, who have known each other for 10 years and have three children, will probably wed in Munich, where they applied for a marriage licence before the European football championships in June.

Berlin’s DJ Noppe has been hired to provide the music at the reception. He carried out a similar function at Ballack’s 30th birthday party in London last year.

Ballack and his family lived near Lake Starnberg when he played for Bayern Munich before his move to Chelsea in 2006.

Ballack assures that Chelsea made him a better player

The talented Michael Ballack is convinced that he has improved as a footballer since moving to Chelsea. And the critics agree with him.

Although many pundits believe the Blue midfielder has been a flop since moving to Stamford Bridge from Bayern Munich last summer, the player is of the opinion he has further developed his game in the United Kingdom.

"It was pretty much as I expected it to be: very difficult," Ballack admitted Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. "I went in search of a new challenge, and I found one. Highs and lows are just part of it, but that is great because that is how I can develop.

"In fact, I have not lost any of my strength. In fact, I have developed further while in England.” he concluded. The German National Team will increase their level with Ballack's best performance, and football lovers thank him.

Controversy over Ballack's surgery

In a very controversial moment, the German Football Association have defended team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt, who decided to perform ankle surgery on captain Michael Ballack. According to them, the player is was in risk of a serious injury without immediate treatment.

“Indeed, our team doctor said that an immediate operation was unavoidable and urgently needed,” DFB spokesman Harald Stenger said on the official website.

As we know, mass media in England have criticised the timing of the operation that has deprived Chelsea of Ballack in the run-in to the end of the season with the club chasing three more titles.

“We must notice that any training or playing could have led to an aggravation and even endangered Ballack’s career,” Stenger assured.

British newspapers suggested that the talented midfielder chose to have the surgery without first consulting Chelsea officials, but Stenger added: “Dr Mueller-Wohlfahrt said he informed both Chelsea doctors in a telephone conversation and explained to them why an immediate operation was required.”

It's important, as we can see, to mention that Ballack injured his ankle against Newcastle United in a Premier League game on April 22. He also missed the first leg of the Champions League semi-final at home to Liverpool, which Chelsea won 1-0, and Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Bolton Wanderers.

The player said he flew to Munich to see Mueller-Wohlfahrt – the Germany National team doctor as well as his doctor at former club Bayern Munich over the last four years – for a second opinion after there was no improvement for four days.

Later, Ballack dismissed the criticism and said suggestions in the media that the DFB doctor wanted to ensure he would be ready for Germany’s European Championship qualifiers in June was absurd.

“It’s really ridiculous to see any connection between this operation and international matches in June,” Ballack assured. “No footballer in the world would risk missing an FA Cup final against Manchester (United), a Champions League semi-final against Liverpool, for a EuroCup qualifying game against San Marino.

Ballack: "Effenberg would be a great coach for Bayern Munich"

From time to time, Michael Ballack feels like speaking like a coach. That's why he has tipped Stefan Effenberg to become the next coach of Bayern Munich coach if Ottmar Hitzfeld leaves at the end of the season.

"In fact, Effenberg has expert knowledge, he is identified with the club and he would come to the job fresh," Ballack admitted in a publication.

"He's a really strong personality and he carries natural authority."

We must remember that Effenberg had two spells with Bayern as a player and led the club to their Champions League triumph in 2001. When he left in 2002, Bayern signed Michaeñ Ballack as his direct replacement.

And even when Effenberg has no experience as a coach, Ballack believes he would be a natural for the important role.

"Yes, Juergen Klinsmann didn't have any experience before he became Germany coach," Ballack reminds us.

It's clever to notice that Hitzfeld returned for a second spell as Bayern coach in place of Felix Magath last month. However, he has yet to confirm whether he will continue in the role next season.

Ballack answers to Shearer's words

Michael Ballack has arguments to defend himself from the critics, and he assures he donesn't play thinking about it.

And we must consider that the latest in a long line of critics has been former England star Alan Shearer, who claims Michael Ballack is not showing enough effort or hunger to succeed in the Premier League.

The German captain makes no secret of his contempt for these critics, claiming he just needs some time to settle.

"I really don't care what people write or say about me," Ballack admitted. "It doesn't bother me. Shearer can say what he wants, but that's life."

"We msut remember that Chelsea are double champions and so expectations are high and the expectations grow, especially when you are slightly behind."

"Indeed, we have to live with that, especially the new players in the team. But I feel well-integrated within Chelsea FC and I am feeling completely comfortable here.

"In fact, I have found my role within the team and get sufficient acknowledgement and support from the team, especially from Mourinho. We are talking a lot together."

According to the numbers, Chelsea currently trail Manchester United by six points in the race for the Premiership title, and Ballack knows that it will be a tough task if the are to overhaul the Red devils.

"It will be really hard to catch Manchester United because they are playing constantly on a very good level," he continued. "We still have to play them at home.

"However, we know that we can't afford any more slip-ups and we have to put them under pressure whenever possible" the talented German concluded.

Ballack says team tactics are not helping him

In a very controversial statement, Michael Ballack assured that the coach's tactics as the reason why he has not made a bigger impact at Chelsea Football Club.

The talented midfielder was expected to be a key performer for the Blues this season after his summer switch from German team Bayern Munich on a free transfer but is struggling to hit peak form.

Despite many critics, Ballack believes that the Blues are not playing to his strengths. He expressed: "I would have hoped there would be more crosses in the air for me to score from. I remember that at Munich the tactics were similar but there were far more crosses.

"The kind of football play is slightly different from what I was used to. The full-backs do not press forward as they did at Bayern.

"What's more, if we sometimes change and play with forwards on the wings, they are the type of players that like to get the ball into the box and try to score rather than pass it on.

"I think that situation makes it more difficult for me to play to my strengths, like heading the ball into the net." he concluded.

We must mention that his words come after many angry statements from some team mates.

Chelsea can't beat Reading and tie 2-2

Chelsea had a bad performance and helped Manchester United extend their lead at the top of the English Premiership to four points. Ferguson's team cruised to a 3-1 win over Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford while Chelsea were held 2-2 by Reading at Stamford Bridge.

The "Blues" lost ground on the leaders after a real struggle against Reading. African striker Didier Drogba twice put Chelsea ahead but Leroy Lita and an own goal from Michael Essien gave Reading a share of the spoils and left Chelsea four points off the pace.

Michael Ballack had a regular performance, which was not enough to lift his team over the rival.

Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho admitted that the draw was probably a fair result.

“We did enough to get the triumph because we scored two goals and could have scored more — I can’t complain about my footballers.

“For instance, the match at Wigan was easy but we made it hard for ourselves. Yes, I had reason to be unhappy with them then. But today, no, because Reading made it really hard for us.”

Starting players to rest against Newcastle

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho is likely to rest some of his more important footballers against Newcastle in the Carling Cup quarter-final on Tyneside on Wednesday night.

That's why Wayne Bridge, Paulo Ferreira and Shaun Wright-Phillips are all in with a chance of being included in the starting line-up.

But the Portuguese manager must check on the fitness of captain John Terry (back) before naming his side. Terry missed the game with Everton and if he remains unfit, Khalid Boulahrouz will continue to deputise.

Striker Joe Cole is out with a broken foot and Carlo Cudicini remains doubtful with a thigh problem.

Newcastle United boss Glenn Roeder will make late checks on Nolberto Solano and Emre.

Peruvian talented wing Solano has missed the last two games with a groin problem, while Emre limped off during the 2-1 Barclays Premiership win over Watford at the weekend with an ankle injury.

What's more, Celestine Babayaro is suspended, and that means Damien Duff could once again be used at left-back provided he has suffered no reaction to his return from knee surgery.

DEspite those facts, Charles N'Zogbia is set to miss the entire holiday campaign with a medial ligament injury which has proved more serious than was first thought, while Michael Owen and Tim Krul (both knee), Shola Ameobi and Olivier Bernard (both hip), Craig Moore (hamstring), Titus Bramble (calf), Stephen Carr (foot) and Steve Harper (groin) remain on the sidelines.

Line ups:

Chelsea: Hilario, Hedman, Cudicini, Ferreira, Boulahrouz, Geremi, Carvalho, A Cole, Bridge, Essien, Ballack, Makelele, Lampard, Drogba, Shevchenko, Diarra, Wright-Phillips, Robben, Kalou.

Newcastle: Given, Srnicek, Solano, Taylor, Ramage, Huntington, Parker, Butt, Emre, Milner, Duff, Pattison, Troisi, Gate, Edgar, Martins, Dyer, Sibierski, Luque, Rossi, Carroll.

Chelsea is ready to face the match against Levski Sofia

Chelsea is working hard this season to get as many titles as possible. And at least in the Champions League, they are in the right way.

In fact, the hard work has been accomplished so it is only natural that the "Blues" coach Jose Mourinho should be looking beyond Chelsea FC's final Group A fixture against PFC Levski Sofia and towards the knockout rounds that follow in the new year. Winning the section, he says, is not so important in terms of what opposition they will face in the last 16; rather it will guarantee that they stage the second leg at Stamford Bridge.

As we know, Ballack's team slipped six points behind Manchester United FC in their Premiership title defence as they were without a game at the weekend, and for this match they will make changes with skipper John Terry suspended. Claude Makelele will take a rest and Wayne Bridge will replace Ashley Cole at left-back. Mourinho added that he was sorry to see fourth-placed Levski bowing out of Europe altogether, because the campaign had provided valuable experience. "They would have done very well if they got through to the UEFA Cup and I hope to see them again very soon in the Champions League," he said.

Line ups:

Chelsea FC: Carlo Cudicini; Geremi, Ricardo Carvalho, Khalid Boulahrouz, Wayne Bridge; Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Joe Cole; Didier Drogba, Andriy Shevchenko.

Levski: Bozhidar Mitrev; Zhivko Milanov, Elin Topuzakov, Igor Tomašić, Stanislav Angelov; Richard Eromoigbe, Daniel Borimirov, Cédric Bardon; Nikolay Dimitrov, Valeri Domovchiyski, Hristo Yovov.

Chelsea and Manchester United fought for a 1-1 draw

This was a good point for Chelsea, one they are convinced will be a turning point in the title race. All draws are equal, but some are more equal than others.

Indeed, Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford by Mourinho's side on Sunday. United opened the scoring just before the half hour through Louis Saha, while Ricardo Carvalho equalised for the visitors on 69 minutes.

It was a game of two halves, United dominating the first 45 minutes while Chelsea took a deserved point by bossing the second period.

Michael Ballack played an important role in the midfield, covering the strikes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Giggs.

Ferguson's team created the first chance on two minutes, a Ryan Giggs free-kick whipped into the box from the right, Rooney rising with the header which looped over the bar.

Portuguese talent Cristiano Ronaldo forced a save from Carlo Cudicini on 18 minutes, hammering a free-kick over the wall from 30 yards, and it was United's early pressure that finally told on 29 minutes when Saha buried the ghosts of his injury-time Champions League penalty miss against Celtic midweek with a fine finish from the edge of the box after good work from Ronaldo and Rooney.

In fact, Chelsea's only real shot on target in the first half fell to Geremi, who cracked in a powerful shot from distance that forced Edwin Van de Sar to parry.

We must say that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho changed things around at half-time, taking right-back Geremi off for Arjen Robben, moving Michael Essien into defence.

And it was a good thing that his move paid dividends, in terms of possession and opportunity at least, with Chelsea dominating possession and United sitting back and hoping for counter attacks and even moving Rooney to a left-midfield position to try to stifle Robben.

It was United, however, who created the two best chances of the opening phase of the second part despite Chelsea's dominance, first on 48 minutes when Louis Saha mis-hit Rooney's cross to Ronaldo who could not quite reach the ball with the goal at their mercy.

Then the same players combined again, Gabriel Heinze's great left-wing cross chested down by Ronaldo at the far post but Chelsea defender John Terry doing just enough to put the Frenchman off.

Midfielder Frank Lampard had a vicious shot flash wide just before the hour and after two more chances to Drogba and Lampard again the Champions did eventually make their statistical advantage count in typical fashion ten minutes later, Lampard sending a corner to help Carvalho's header, the thumping finish going in off the bar via a helpless Saha on the far post.

Paul Scholes then went close with a drive that was deflected wide by team-mate Saha who was lying on the ground after he initially tried to shoot on goal, before Andriy Shevchenko - anonymous again - came off with 15 minutes remaining for Joe Cole.

Soon after Lampard sent a shot over after neat interplay with Robben, while Drogba credited himself by staying on his feet when nudged by Heinze in the box with 12 minutes left.

Cristiano Ronaldo had a late effort deflected wide, but the second half was Chelsea's as the first was United's, the 1-1 a fair result and Sir Alex Ferguson's men staying top three points clear of Chelsea Football Club.

"I am at my limit"

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack has told German newwspapers he is on the verge of struggling with his club's busy playing schedule. And we must consider that Germany take on Cyprus tonight in a Euro 2008 qualifier.

In fact, the former Bayern Munich player fears the lack of a winter break in England, but also said he came to London to prove himself.

"I am not on my reserves yet, but physically I am at my limit," Michael admitted. "We will see how it will go in the spring without a pause in the winter."

As we know, he did admitted he left Munich for a new challenge, but also because of the tougher schedule.

"I deliberately switched from the lighter match in Munich to prove myself," he added.

"I don't enjoy the same privileges here as I did in Germany. Great performances are important for us to play, but I'm glad I took the step."