Ballack revels in Blues role

German skipper forced to adapt his game

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 15th May 2008

Ballack revels in Blues role

Ballack: Has met challenges

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Michael Ballack believes he has become a more ruthless player since moving to Stamford Bridge.

The midfielder arrived at Chelsea on a free transfer in the summer of 2006 and has taken his time to settle among his new surroundings.

However, having now firmly found his feet in English football he feels he has been forced to alter his style of play in order to create cohesion among a squad brimming with world class talent.

Status

"Playing for Chelsea I have to be more ruthless than in the German national team where I've managed to earn myself a different status over the years," Ballack said.

"But it also means that I'm expected to make decisions on the pitch - it's different at Chelsea.

"We have six captains from national teams on our side - John Terry for England, Didier Drogba for the Ivory Coast, Andrei Shevchenko for the Ukraine, Petr Cech for the Czech Republic, Claudio Pizarro for Peru and me for Germany, as well as quite a few top international players.

Accomplished

"It goes without saying that everyone is forced to show some restraint so as not to jeopardise our success. But you have to face the challenge.

"You have to make people sit up and take notice of you otherwise you just go under in a team like this, you're just devoured by the machine. And so I've become more ruthless.

"But I wanted to play with all these stars - come hell or high water. Just to be able to prove that I could meet the challenge was well worth the battle for me.

"And now I can say, whatever happens, I've accomplished something. At the same time, I was never worried that I wouldn't succeed."

Desperate

The German international is currently preparing for a UEFA Champions League final against Manchester United and admits that he is desperate for European glory.

Ballack was part of a Bayer Leverkusen side which came unstuck in the 2002 final against Real Madrid and he is hoping to avoid a repeat this time around.

"I just desperately want to win this trophy," he added.

"I don't want to look back on my career at some point and say: 'what a pity, I came close a few times, but it was never good enough'.

Greedy

"We outplayed Real and we lost 2-1. We defeated ourselves in that match. Occasionally I think back on it. That's the way it is in football.

"But the feeling is just growing about what it would be like to actually hold the trophy in my hands.

"At some stage it fills you up entirely, your whole way of thinking the closer you get to the day of the match. And that's as it should be. You have to be totally focused and greedy about winning the cup."