Ballack refusing to give up

Blues midfielder has United in his sights

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 17th March 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Ballack refusing to give up

Ballack: Optimistic

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Michael Ballack has warned Manchester United that Chelsea will push them all the way in the title race.

Guus Hiddink's side currently sit four points adrift of the Red Devils as the battle for top flight supremacy hots up.

The Blues only have nine games in which to topple United at the summit, while Sir Alex Ferguson's men have one game more in which to hang on to their lofty perch.

The battle promises to be keenly-fought, with Liverpool still harbouring aspirations of taking the crown after their 4-1 victory at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Rafa Benitez's men have already proven that they will not be giving up without a fight, and Ballack has made it clear that Chelsea will also be challenging until it is mathematically impossible for them to emerge on top.

"We are not a team that ever give up. It's going to take something big for us to be able to win the league, but in football you never know," the Germany international said in the Daily Express.

"We have to enjoy the moment we are in. Right now we are winning games and looking forward to the next one."

Ballack also believes a rejuvenated Didier Drogba will be crucial to the club's chances of closing the gap on United.

Confidence

"We are now seeing signs of the old Didier," he said.

"Even though Didier is an experienced player, as a striker you need even more confidence than players in other positions - and the way you get it is with goals. Strikers want to score and when they do, they feel good.

"Didier looks more happy now because he is spending more time on the pitch. It's great that he's back fit again.

"You always need games to get yourself really back on form when you've been out for a while. He's getting them now.

"Him being back on song can play a big part in the remainder of the season. For us the season is still very much alive.

"The change of manager has had a positive effect.

"We have to keep going now. We have this momentum and we need to keep it going as long as we can."

Comments (24)

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Rary Machiana says...

To Mike Harrison: Ever heard of John Terry? The Chelsea and England captain? If I remember correctly, he is chelsea through and through, and was picked over Gerrard for the english captaincy. Gerrard is a class player. But dont try and suggest only Liverpool have a world class grown talent.

Posted 08:55 18th March 2009

Chris Smith (Manchester United fan) says...

If Man Utd had been 1 point ahead with a game in hand before the Liverpool game and had won to be where they are now, everyone would be saying the leagues over. Saying they are cracking because they lost 1 game is hysteria. Dream on. Normal service is about to be resumed. Chris

Posted 07:34 18th March 2009

Mike Harrison (Liverpool fan) says...

charlie you are talking absolute rubbish.even ZZ called steven gerrard the best player in the world and that was only after the madrid game.serial diver-coming from a chelsea team that has drogba,malouda and co.there is no more competative captain in the league than gerrard.he has carried liverpool on more than once.are you just upset that you have brought your entire team and have no world class home grown talent of your own.

Posted 06:48 18th March 2009

Jim Jones (Chelsea fan) says...

i'm a chelsea fan and i got to be REALISTIC,i don't think theres anyway of us or liverpool winning the prem we just too late 9 games left and man u got arsenal only as the team to might beat them plus chelsea still got arsenal away and liverpool got to play them too plus its man u they got it all the players, the manager, the tactics and everything its that maybe chelsea and liverpool can make it a lil bit harder for them but no way any of us gonna win it BUT, we got the chance of winnig both champo league and FA cup which is as a chelsea fan i'd be more then happy to win them so i think we got to concentrate on both of them and forget about the prem title at least we can get trophies unlike last season so guus needs to not make the prem as important as the rest and try to rest d=some 1st choice players in prem matches so we can get the most of them anyway good luck to chelsea and i really hope that Man u don't win the prem even though sounds impossible but i hope.

Posted 23:40 17th March 2009

James Thompson (Chelsea fan) says...

I think the fact that vidic will be suspended for the away game against fulham and the home game against villa will have an impact. He has been the rock in the united defence. He has made an appearance in all but 1 of the PL fixtures. I think they will draw with fulham and villa because he is missing and that would make for a very interesting run in.

Posted 23:03 17th March 2009

Chris Robinson (Aston Villa fan) says...

Liverpool's victory over the weekend doesn't mean the title race is wide open again because united still have a game in hand and the gap will be 7 points if they manage to win, this result just shows that they cannot sit back and it is a good wake up call , united will respond positively and get back to winning ways, people cannot blame vidic as great players have days off and form is temporary and class is permanent!

Posted 22:00 17th March 2009

Craig Durham (West Ham United fan) says...

I feel Man United will win the league by at least six points. Liverpools great result has come too late. If they would have won just four of those games they had drawn earlier in the season they would have been in with a shout.You cant expect United to drop points and Liverpool to win virtually every game. The difference between the teams is simple, strength in depth, if Liverpool could just have another two world class players and in particular another striker they could rival united for a whole season and not just a one off game. If United have Berbatov out, they have got Rooney and then there is Tevez, If Torres is not available for Liverpool,who is next??

Posted 20:13 17th March 2009

Gladwyn D'souza (Manchester United fan) says...

I can see Manchester United winning the premier league easily. NO doubt Man Utd weren't at their best this weekend but they will bounce back. A 4 point gap at the top plus a game in hand isn't a crisis. They've got depth in their squad and have an experienced manager. come on! we all know Sir Alex. I don't see see why they won't win the quintuple. These next few weeks are crucial though. If they get through to the semis of the FA cup and the Champions League, they will easily win both these trophies. It's the passion, determination and desire of every member at Old Trafford that make this club the best in the world and that's why I can say that they will win the quintuple this season.

Posted 19:22 17th March 2009

Man utd fan Cc says...

Cracks! what cracks. It is unheard of at Old Traffold. If any of us recall Liverpool were leading the premiership table by at least 7 points, but those evaporated, leaving them with a deficit of 7 points at one time. I can not put my money on chelsea because they have not played a strong team so far ever since Hiddink took over. Whilst I totally agree with everyone who said that Liverpool and Chelsea will mount a title challenge, I do not see Manchester Utd giving away any more points now. I see a team that wants to prove all the critics wrong.

Posted 17:37 17th March 2009

John-philip Khalil (Aston Villa fan) says...

"United lose their 3rd game of the season in all competitions and all of a sudden they're a poor side?" quote by Anthony Howe -- I'm afraid you're mistaken. United lost 5 games in all competitions this season, you forgot the losses to Derby County and Zenit I think it'll be a very interesting finish to the season, and Liverpool might edge it if they maintain recent form.

Posted 17:31 17th March 2009

Michael Johnson (Fulham fan) says...

Chelsea has stepped it up, so has Liverpool. I think ManU needed to feel the sting of a loss to regain their focus to win the league. The question is, can they win both the FA Cup and Champions League. That would be an incredible feat.

Posted 16:46 17th March 2009

Allie Mccann (Manchester United fan) says...

3 games lost in all competitions? not bad at all,this team will recover because they have always recovered from setbacks, it was a poor performance (bound to happen at some point) unfortunately it was against Liverpool, that is the worse I've seen the defence perform for 3 years and had they not been playing a up for it Liverpool they may have drawn the game, it's a reminder to the team of the standard of performances needed until the end of the season, I think it will be a blessing in disguise

Posted 16:29 17th March 2009

Sandeep Singh (Liverpool fan) says...

What a result on the weekend chaps! Liverpool have made the title race wide open again. The question is that can Liverpool and Chelsea be consistent and win 9 out of their 10 games. I am sure Man United will drop points hence it will come down to consistency of the following pack. Another factor may be the fixture list, Liverpool have the best run in out the three although there squad is not as good as Chelsea and Uniteds. Champions League I believe is any english teams. United are current champions, Liverpool are always there at the latter stages, Chelsea are due a win and lets not forget Arsenal who seem to play very strong in europe at the moment , a more resiliant team in europe. Great to see our league dominating European Football again just a shame about our uefa cup boys with Man City being the only team left in it.

Posted 15:41 17th March 2009

Charlie Fitzherbert (Chelsea fan) says...

I am a Chelsea fan and ManU are nailed on for the title. The Blues are not playing well enough, despite the Hiddink media hype, and Liverpool's freak result at the weekend doesn't alter the fact that they are an ordinary side (without Torres) destined for 3rd place at best. Benitez is unhinged and their Captain is a serial diver and cheat, both will get their just desserts in due course. I am just pleased that Mr. A made the managerial change when he did or we would have been struggling for a top 4 place. As it is, it will be close but it's Chelsea a close second I am afraid. FA Cup and/or Champions League will be fine this season and the Premiership in 2010. Great - domestic Champions and a new Prime Minister ! Lubbly jubbly..............

Posted 15:29 17th March 2009

Dave Grey (Derby County fan) says...

We beat Man Utd this year - does that mean we are better than the best team in the world? No that would be a stupid thing to say. Man Utd have lost 3 games and other fans are saying they're in crisis? I think that says a lot about the high perception Man Utd give off to everyone in the premier league. We have all wrote Man Utd off before ........ big mistake

Posted 15:18 17th March 2009

Gregg Birchall (Manchester United fan) says...

Bring it on! Chelsea would be a good draw for utd in th CL. with the energy and quality of the utd side Chelsea wouldnt cope. I think too much is being read into the last 2 performances of utd, we've lost 1 game, it was bound to happen sooner or later but as a utd fan im glad it happened when it did as sometimes a kick in the teeth is what you need, then you start back up again and then grow stronger. Theres a real good possibility that 5 trophies will be going back to Old Trafford!

Posted 13:32 17th March 2009

Ryan Gamal (Liverpool fan) says...

Both Liverpool and Chelsea are hitting form at the right time, whilst Utd haven't really played well in their last 2 games. Confidence is key in football, and I think the recent performances of all 3 teams means that both Liverpool and Chelsea have a great chance.

Posted 12:35 17th March 2009

Anthony Howe (Manchester United fan) says...

Let's look at things in perspective. United lose their 3rd game of the season in all competitions and all of a sudden they're a poor side? I'm no-one else wants to be in their position. Now to see how they respond, win on Saturday and it'll be back to normal.

Posted 12:31 17th March 2009

Ben Davison (Chelsea fan) says...

As a Chelsea fan, i personally see the title race as much more open three way race. To be honest, i seriously think Liverpools performance against United was a title challenging win and they genuinely can do it, but so can Chelsea. Great to see Hiddink giving Chelsea that kick we desperately needed and i hope the next manager if Hiddink leaves has the same mental impact as Guus. Cant see us winning the league, but i would definately think that we can push United right untill the last game of the season as we did last season. If we were to win the Prem, it would take a whole lot of hard luck on Man U.

Posted 12:18 17th March 2009

Yusuf Awojole (Chelsea fan) says...

We have to give credit to all the players because they have shown more commitment ever since the new coeach took over. To all chelsea fans............ I do not see Man Utd winning the Premier league defientely their is pressure on them right now and they bound to loss more games.Go Chelsea we have what it takes to win the Premier league, FA and CL.

Posted 11:59 17th March 2009
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