Fit-again Ballack has nothing to prove
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Michael Ballack believes he has nothing to prove to Avram Grant, his new manager at Chelsea, despite starting only two matches since the Israeli arrived at the club in the summer.
The Germany captain checked himself in for ankle surgery last April and he has
endured a torrid road back to fitness, undergoing a second operation in July and only returning to the team
two weeks ago, as a substitute in the Carling Cup victory over Liverpool. He has
since appeared as a goalscoring substitute against Aston Villa in the Premier |
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League and a starter against Newcastle and Fulham.
He scored the winner from the penalty spot against Fulham.
Grant, who joined the club as the director of football before being made manager
in September following the departure of Jose Mourinho, has been eager to reintegrate Ballack. But the
midfielder, who feared for his career during his lay-off, is focused solely on recapturing his form.
"It's nothing about the manager," he said. "I've worked very hard in this
period. It's always difficult when you're injured. I'm looking forward and at
the moment, it's good."
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"The timing of Ballack's initial operation sparked a
confrontation with Chelsea, coming as it did before the
Champions League semi-final, vital Premier League matches and the FA
Cup final.
Ballack had scored the winner in the FA Cup semi-final
against Blackburn Rovers but he missed out on the final with Manchester United, the first to be played at the new Wembley.
The disappointment will act as a spur for him in this season's cup run, which begins against QPR at Stamford
Bridge on Saturday. |
"It wasn't nice to miss the
final," he said. "I have experience of this at the World Cup [when
Germany lost to Italy in the semi-finals] but I can't change the things that have
happened. I got this injury and I'm looking forward to this round. Maybe we will reach the final again and I can play.
"I was inside the stadium at Wembley and it was a great feeling to
be there for the first big game. It is an unbelievable stadium with a big history and I could feel the
importance of this competition in England. You can't compare it to other countries."
--Guardian Unlimited
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