Ballack denies Chelsea threat

Michael Ballack has laughed off talk about various demands he made to Chelsea.

The elegant midfielder agreed to join the Premiership champions from Bayern Munich for next season, with a deal wrapped up well before the start of the World Cup.

For all his quality and pedigree Ballack will still have a tough time to establish himself in Chelsea's engine room given the fact Jose Mourinho can also draw from the likes of Frank Lampard, Claude Makelele, Michael Essien, Joe Cole, Damien Duff, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Arjen Robben.

There had been reports that the Germany international had asked for reassurances from Mourinho as to what his role at Stamford Bridge would entail.

However, the 29-year-old has now moved to reject any such claims and suggest that on the contrary, he is more than willing to fight for his place.

''That was never the case. I would never make that demand,'' said Ballack.

"There is strong competition with players like Makelele, Lampard, Essien and Cole but that can only be good for me.

"I am flexible in midfield. I can play an attacking or defensive role and Jose knows my strengths, my ability to score goals.

"Now it is a question of proving myself to him on the pitch, reproducing those things that impressed him."

Although Manchester United were also suitors for his signature, Ballack believes he made the right choice in agreeing a switch to West London.

"Chelsea is the right club because of what has been achieved over the last two years,'' he concluded.

"The league is very strong with English teams being in the Champions League final in the successive seasons tells us that.

"Manchester United came in for me quite early but the possibilities at Chelsea seemed much greater."