Michael Ballack has been told by another former Bayern
Munich captain that he must leave Chelsea or risk wrecking the
tail-end of his career. Stefan Effenberg claims the midfielder is
no longer valued at the club and cites his omission from their
Champions League squad and the initial refusal to let him film an
adidas television advert for the national team as
proof.
The former Germany international also claims that Ballack's
team-mates have turned against the 30-year-old and urged him to cut
his losses. Effenberg said: "I do not believe that Ballack has a
future with Chelsea any more. If so important a player is not
nominated for the Champions League, that says everything about his
value. "I do not know what exactly happened there, but I can
imagine that influential fellow players made a stand against him.
"Chelsea do not want Ballack any more. They have shown that openly.
If nothing fundamental changes in his situation, he must look
around for alternatives and then ask in the winter for his
release."
Germany manager Oliver Bierhoff accused Chelsea of denying Ballack
permission to participate in a promotional campaign. Chelsea denied
the suggestion but Bierhoff said: "That is not how you treat a
Germany player and in particular our captain. I am astonished by
the way Chelsea have acted."
Ballack is recovering from ankle surgery, an injury which prompted
Chelsea to leave him off their 23-man squad list for the group
stage of the Champions League.
