Ballack hits out at Blues over operation

zocoss SG

Unhappy: Michael Ballack feels let down by Chelsea over his recent ankle operation.

Michael Ballack has come out fighting in his row with Jose Mourinho over an ankle operation carried out on the advice of the Germany team doctor. Ballack held talks with Chelsea's head coach in an attempt to clear the air after his treatment 11 days ago provoked a furious response. The midfielder's future at Stamford Bridge is in doubt as Mourinho is not thought to have sanctioned the micro-surgery directly, but Ballack is determined to stay and has blamed the club's medical department for the dispute.

It is understood the Germany captain has claimed Chelsea's experts missed a problem of a small loose bone above his ankle after he damaged it at Newcastle last month. A statement issued on bahalf of the German Football Federation on Ballack's condition said "an immediate operation was necessary and indispensable. Ballack is also thought to have told boss Mourinho that continuing to train or play with the problem could have caused serious long-term damage.

Conflicting accounts of communications between Ballack, the medical department and the Portuguese after the player flew to Germany to get a second opinion have clouded the picture further as Chelsea's season of in-fighting re-ignited. Despite the seriousness of the allegations against Chelsea's medical department, which is led by doctor Bryan English, the midfielder was hoping the club would make a statement backing him.

That has not been forthcoming but one was issued by the German authorities on behalf of the national team doctor, Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt. It said: "An immediate operation was necessary and indispensable. Wohlfahrt detected lose splints in Ballack's left high ankle. Any further practice session or another game potentially could have endangered the player's health, even threatened Ballack's career.

After defending the 30-year-old all season Mourinho has made thinly-veiled attacks on him and Andriy Shevchenko, who was due to undergo season-ending surgery today on a troublesome groin after also falling out with the head coach. Ballack is expected to be fit for the FA Cup Final on 19 May against Manchester United.

Frank Lampard has also added to the suggestions that Chelsea have lacked unity in their squad, with Shevchenko and Ballack not integrating fully. He said: "There have been other problems at the club and they have to be addressed, simple as that. We cannot lose the spirit that has got us where we are, with certain people."

Rock^Star SG

This further fuels my belief (and also a popular one) that money cannot buy success.

Gackt247 SG

Money can POSSIBLY by success.. but egos will be in the way.

LazerLordz SG

Ballack joined the wrong club, period.

zocoss SG

Poor thing... He could have gone to Real or United but they couldn't afford his $130,000 a week salary. Neutral

used SG

he is still going to miss the games if the surgery is taken ealier. but whoever makes these decisions have the best intentions in mind

Rock^Star SG

United doesn't want to afford, right?

I would have loved Ballack but I would prefer them to go for youth...like Ronaldo and Rooney.

SumOne SG

I don't think it's necessarily down to anybody's big ego or anything, just that relations and communication isn't working out.

Might be that Ballack's own club is singling him out and picking on him. Might be Ballack putting himself above the team. Or may just be the media blowing it out of proportion.

But I think it's just one big misunderstanding.

We won't know unless someone spills the beans after leaving the club.

pierre^^ SG

why was ballack worth 130000 (Pounds) in the first place

i expect that much of money to be paid to a goal scoring machine instead

used SG

only chelsea can answer that Laughing

zocoss SG

Not doesn't want to But can't afford... Even Ronaldo, they tried very hard to keep... they were only willing to offer $110,000...(and he is proven in epl) would they want to pay 130,000 a wk for an untested (in the epl) and yet old player ?

Rock^Star SG

Form for Chelsea aside, Ballack is worth $130,000 pounds a week. He has the ability to command the midfield, make splitting passes and best of all, score from long range and powerful headers to nick a game.

That kind of salary is worth the likes of Henry, van Nistelrooy but so is Ballack.

the Bear SG

Ballack.. looks out of place, out of tune, out of phase in Chelsea..

maybe he's a good player but he just doesn't seem to fit in the team..

it's made worse by his planet-sized ego..

dragg SG

he cant blame anyone but himself.

he wasnt comfortable at all at chelsea.

sand king SG

Originally posted by zocoss:
[b]
Unhappy: Michael Ballack feels let down by Chelsea over his recent ankle operation.

http://www.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=253226

nawww, i think he made no difference.

zocoss SG

ANDRIY SHEVCHENKO has held talks with Chelsea skipper John Terry to explain his injury problems. Sheva was concerned by rumours he was not giving his all for the club. The news comes after the German football federation backed Michael Ballacks decision to have an operation against manager Jose Mourinhos wishes.

The German skipper claims Chelseas medical staff failed to diagnose a loose bone in his ankle. Both players believe they are victims of a communication breakdown. Shevchenko, Chelseas £31million summer signing, yesterday had a hernia operation that will keep him out of the FA Cup final against Manchester United.

He has been concerned by claims he pulled out of the Champions League semi-final against Liverpool because he was not picked to start the game. Shevchenko spoke to Terry at training to talk through the full extent of the injuries he has suffered this season.

Terry, also England skipper, is arguably the most influential club captain in the Premiership. He has an open hotline to Mourinho and they talk regularly about team affairs. A source close to Sheva told Sport: Andriy is determined to be fighting fit for the start of next season. He has had a lot of injury problems. He has explained all this to John Terry who was quite happy with what he had to say.

Sheva travelled to Anfield to cheer on the Blues from the directors box where he was welcomed by club officials. And he was down by the touchline as Chelsea suffered their penalty shoot-out defeat. Neither Frank Lampard or Terry have agreed new contracts. It is believed the fact Shevchenko and Ballack are the top-paid stars has been one of the major stumbling blocks.