BALLACK ... don't put your shirt on him
staying
MICHAEL BALLACK has hinted Chelsea may not be
his last club. Ballack, 31, previously insisted he would love to
hang up his boots at Stamford Bridge. But the German midfielder now
claims he is in no hurry to sign a new contract — despite only
having a year left on his current deal.
He said: "I have a contract until 2009 and there is an
option to extend it, so there is no need to rush. "We will just
wait and see what happens."
Sources within the club fear Ballack will walk away for
free at the end of the season if he fails to win a regular place in
Phil Scolari's midfield. But Ballack insists his immediate focus is
on making up for missing out on the Premier League and Champions
League to Manchester United last term.
He added: "Even without new signings, Chelsea already
had an exceptional squad which is capable of winning something.
"That obviously means we can win the Champions League — that is the
reason why I moved to Chelsea. "I am playing in the best league in
the world with one of the strongest teams."
