Michael Ballack has said that Chelsea’s stars have to reach the Champions League semi-finals to make up for their self-inflicted misery in the FA and League Cups.
Chelsea face Fenerbahce tonight after trailing 2-1 from last week’s away game in Istanbul. Although Chelsea are only 3 points behind Manchester United with the champions still to travel to Stamford Bridge in the league, the season has been a difficult one for new manager Avram Grant who has been barracked by fans and press for his lack of prior credentials and his un-Mourinhoness.
Michael Ballack (on the Carling Cup and FA Cup defeats):
“We lost because we didn’t play well in those two games. We went to a final and we shouldn’t lose a final. It was our fault. It was not that Tottenham played fantastic football. And even against Barnsley, it was our fault.
We saw it in the first leg against Fenerbahce. It was our fault. When we play our best football we can win every competition. We didn’t do that in two competitions this year. Everybody knows that and it is our motivation.
We have a strong team with a lot of experience. We know the situation when you go to a quarter-final and have to win. We have showed this many times in the past. I have confidence we can win the game but in the first game after 45 minutes we thought it would be an easy win, then the game changes.
It shouldn’t happen again. We will prepare well to make sure it doesn’t.
We play at home and we have a fantastic record at home. But they have nothing to lose and that makes it very dangerous.””
While Ballack is focusing on the performance of his teammates, the axe is more likely to fall on the manager’s head rather than the players. But Grant has handled the pressure (and abuse) well so far, and even without Mourinho at the helm Chelsea are the side more likely to progress to the Champions League semifinals.
What a load of old Ballacks.
Bottom line, Chelsea walk into games thinking they’ve won before they’ve started, and lost out cause the didn’t have the hunger or grit their opponents possesed it those two games in question.
Carling Cup final especially, Chelsea were surprising outclassed by Spurs, and made to look very ordinary.
Oh dear what a load of old tosh!
Plainly and simply put, on both occasions both teams scored one more goal than Chelscum. On neither occasion did Chelsea score any own goals. Therefor on both occasions they were beaten by the better team on the day!
What a bunch of knobs!
I think this shows a stunning lack of respect for both teams who beat Chelsea through skill, grit and determination, not luck. Bollock’s idiotic statement epitomises Chelsea as a whole – rammed up their own backside.
What a fu8king kock jockey he is. A true Chelski chav , no class , no history , no pedigree , no fans , no one likes them , no substance , a nothing club. Terry , ballack fat frank cole and co what a collection of thugs punks they are. Chelski hahahahahaa never been anything never will be
Chelsea beat themselves did they? Always knew they were wankers!
no pedigree? being true to your team doesn’t mean you also become a moron and forget what Ballack has achieved in his career.
cheryl – knew that was going to come soon 🙂
HeeHeeHee! What a silly has-been!
Why do reporters even bother to repeat these types of comments when they know it’s just going to wind-up the spurs fans. Chelsea have a winning mentality but it is their overconfidence and arrogance that beat them on the occasions mentioned. They were totally outclassed in all departments when they played Spurs in the final. If what Ballack says is true why did they loose against Fenerbace and let 4 in at the lane. They are a sports car without a steering wheel- NO MANAGER. Ballack should learn more about English football before such comments.
JUST AS I WAS GETTING TO LIKE CHELSEA AGAIN WITHOUT MOURIHNIO ITS THIS SORT OF CRAP THAT REMINDS ME WHY I HATE THEM AND WILL CONTINUE TO HATE THEM. AANOTHER REASON IS ASHLEY COLE