May 19

Germany captain Michael Ballack vows to make international return

• Chelsea midfielder insists Germany career is not over
• Will miss World Cup after suffering FA Cup final injury

Germany captain Michael Ballack insists his international career is not over, despite being forced to miss the World Cup due to injury.

Ballack picked up an ankle injury in the FA Cup final after being fouled by Portsmouth’s Kevin-Prince Boateng and has been told he will not be able to play again for at least two months.

Ballack told Germany’s Bild newspaper: “I won’t let my international career come to an end because of a foul like this. I never said that I would retire after the World Cup. I want to continue playing at the highest level and I will consider things in calm over the next few weeks.”

Ballack’s future for Chelsea should also be resolved in the next few weeks and he is optimistic that a new deal will be reached with the Premier League club.

“Chelsea are absolutely my first option. We are in contact with the club. The coach first of all wants to discuss things internally and then he will approach the players in a week.”

But first, Ballack must somehow come to terms with the fact he will miss what would probably be his last chance to become world champion.

“I gave everything for the goal of South Africa and now the World Cup has been taken away from me in a brutal way. It is bitter to be hacked down in such a way in the last game of the season. It hurts.”

While Ballack considers his own future, the national team coach Joachim Low is pondering not only who should take Ballack’s place in his team, but also who should wear the captain’s armband.

Ballack, who has flown to Germany’s training camp in Sicily “to be part of the family” and “to help me come to terms with this blow quicker”, had a few words of advice for the coach.

“Schweini [Bastian Schweinsteiger] has got to do it now and take on more responsibility. He is self-confident and has the class. I don’t see anybody else who shows such a presence and sets the tone like him.

“As for the captain, I don’t want to add to the speculation – it is hard enough for the coach. There’s [Philipp] Lahm, Schweini and [Miroslav] Klose.

“Miro has had an unfortunate season, but he has a high standing in the national team. His experience is important. And, being captain could give him a boost.”

GermanyWorld Cup 2010 Group DWorld Cup 2010ChelseaPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk

Comments Off | Tags: , , ,
Jan 02

Frank Lampard gets more credit than he deserves, says Florent Malouda

• Lampard’s ‘position in the national team’ enhances status
• ‘The status has to be in relation with the performances’

Chelsea’s Florent Malouda believes Frank Lampard is getting credit than his performances deserve and says he is frustrated at Stamford Bridge playing second fiddle to the England midfielder.

Malouda said that Lampard’s status at the club is enhanced by his role as a leading England player in a World Cup year. “It’s his position in the national team,” said the France winger. “He plays like that in the England team, and we are in a World Cup year. But at a certain point, the status has to be in relation with the performances.”

Malouda has made just nine Premier League starts this season and has already had talks with manager Carlo Ancelotti about his discontent. He believes Chelsea would not be willing to let him go but insists he will push for a departure if things remain the same.

“Before the match against Birmingham, I talked to the coach to tell him about my frustration,” he told L’Equipe. “The frustration is above all for the big games. I’m ready to look elsewhere. Finding another club is not a problem. But the club has closed the door to any departure, whether it be in January or in June. The coach is counting on me. We’ll see from now until the end of the season.”

At the end of last season Malouda was linked with a move to either AC Milan or Barcelona, but the 29-year-old signed a new contract in the summer, tying him to the Blues until 2013.

ChelseaPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk

Comments Off | Tags: , , , , ,