Michael Ballack
Michael Ballack
Michael Ballackis a retired German footballer. He is among the top goal scorers in the history of the German national team. Ballack wore the number 13 shirt for every team he has played for except for Kaiserslautern. He was selected by Pelé as one of FIFA's 125 Greatest Living Players, and as the UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year in 2002. He won the German Footballer of the Year award three times – in 2002, 2003 and 2005. Ballack was...
ProfessionSoccer Player
Date of Birth26 September 1976
CityGorlitz, Germany
broke goal played tension tough
It was very tough at the start. The first goal broke the tension and we played well after that.
criticism defeat handle learn players saw slovakia
The 2-0 defeat by Slovakia saw the players come in for criticism and the young players need to learn how to handle it,
climbed game played pulled rankings skin
When we played them at the 2002 World Cup, it was a game we pulled by the skin of our teeth, we were lucky. They've climbed up the rankings and no one has noticed. Sometimes they are underestimated by the public.
club inform next november playing
I told them that I would inform the club at the end of November where I would be playing next season.
behind face good played run team together
We'll face a very good U.S. team that's played together a lot and that has a good run behind it.
chances countless great played rewarded scoring
I think we played great a great match. We got countless scoring chances but weren't rewarded in the end, just punished,
again alarm games last manage playing scoring signal situation success
If we manage to have success again in the last games nothing should happen. But it is true, the situation is dangerous. We are not playing badly, have scoring chances, but lose. That is an alarm signal which we can't ignore.
abroad advise against anyone hardly played
There is hardly anyone who played abroad that would advise against making this step,
soccer team play
But at [soccer] tournaments you tend to see novel, unanticipated trends coming through, with everyone watching each other like hawks and immediately copying anything new. What is really important for every team is to be aware of its own capabilities and find a style which plays to one's own strengths.
title
We will not give anything away in the title race.
against arsenal capable four goals home scoring shown three
We are capable of scoring three or four goals at home and have shown that already against Arsenal and Ajax.
happy hard pleased tempo warm
It was very warm out there and hard to keep up the tempo and the pressure. But we can be pleased with 3-0. I am happy with that.
anyone good nor spoke spoken
I spoke with Bayern and it was a good discussion. That is where things stand. I haven't spoken with anyone else, nor do I want to.
age chance chelsea club england good last league move strong top
At the age of 29 this is my last chance to make a move abroad. Chelsea is a top club that is very strong in the league in England and play very, very good in international competition.